White House tells reporter his question is 'misinformation' when he asks if Biden-Harris admin prioritizes Lebanon funding over hurricane relief

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday that it was "misinformation" when she was asked why Congress has to come back in order to approve more funding for North Carolina under the Hurricane Helene efforts when Congress did not have to reconvene in order for the Biden-Harris administration to send $157 million in aid to Lebanon, which harbors and aids terrorist group Hezbollah.

Fox reporter Peter Doocy asked Jean-Pierre, "If [Biden's] got money for people in Lebanon right now without Congress having to come back, what does it say about his values if there's not enough money right now for people in North Carolina."

Jean-Pierre cut off Doocy, saying, "Your whole, your whole premise of the question is misinformation." When Doocy pushed back, asking which part of the question was misinformation, Jean-Pierre said, "Yes, it's misinformation. ... I just mentioned to you that we provided more than $200 million to folks who are impacted in the area." The White House press secretary then said that Congress would have to come together in order to get more funding for those who are in North Carolina and suffering from the disastrous Hurricane Helene.

The point highlighted by Doocy's question is one that many on social media and in conservative media have been asking, namely why it seems that the Biden-Harris administration has been more worried about providing aid to Lebanon or Ukraine than the people affected by the hurricane. Doocy's question also highlights a seeming hypocrisy in that the White House believes Congress must convene to authorize the aid for hurricane survivors, but then that the convening of Congress is not necessary for more foreign aid. 

Many have taken aim at the Biden-Harris administration, slamming the executive branch for not coordinating a better response to the disaster of Hurricane Helene. Department of Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has told reporters that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not even have the funds necessary to get through hurricane season, this comes as it has been revealed that earlier this year over $640 million was dedicated by FEMA in order to provide shelter for illegal immigrants across the country. The White House denies that FEMA funds had been redirected to deal with the illegal immigrant crisis.

Harris announced the funding on Oct 5, saying that "the United States will provide nearly $157 million in additional assistance to the people of Lebanon for essential needs such as food, shelter, water, protection, and sanitation to help those who have been displaced by the recent conflict." Israel has retaliated against the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, that has influence in Lebanon. 

The funding for Lebanon will consist of $82 million coming out of the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration as well as $75 million coming out of the State Department's Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.