Rush Limbaugh said on his radio show this week that liberals are using Hurricane Matthew to “sell” the threat of climate change to the general public. He’s not the only suspicious one: Hurricanes apparently bring out the conspiracy theorist in Donald Trump, too.
After Hurricane Sandy slammed into the northeast a week before the 2012 presidential election, Trump tweeted that Obama would leverage federal disaster relief to “buy the election”:
Hurricane is good luck for Obama again- he will buy the election by handing out billions of dollars.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 30, 2012
Because of the hurricane, I am extending my 5 million dollar offer for President Obama’s favorite charity until 12PM on Thursday.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 30, 2012
I’m concerned about the hurricane & that people will vote for Obama because he’s “bravely standing in water” — (cont) http://t.co/Kg6wg2VO
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2012
Do you believe @algore is blaming global warming for the hurricane?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2012
With long gas lines & total disarray from storm, the hurricane may yet be a negative for Obama.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2012
Interestingly, the hurricane may now be a disaster for Obama’s reelection because of his grandstanding.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2012
Could be the hurricane helps @MittRomney–people are rioting in the streets over gasoline
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2012
.@hardball_chris says he’s “glad” we had a hurricane! With many people dying and thousands hurting, MSNBC (cont) http://t.co/SnhGmaoQ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 8, 2012
He’d also criticized Obama in October 2012 for not granting federal funds in the relief effort after Hurricane Isaac passed over Florida that August, calling Obama’s speech critical of George W. Bush after Hurricane Katrina “racist”:
After Obama’s ’07 racist speech on Katrina relief, he now won’t provide any aid to victms of Hurricane Isaac
http://t.co/aQlC849I— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2012