Harris-Walz Press Conference

By: Clare Buchanan

Harris Walz Virtual Press Conference. Photo By: Clare Buchanan

On October 10, The Salemite had the opportunity to attend a virtual press conference held by the Harris-Walz campaign in response to misinformation being spread about the federal government’s response to the devastation in western North Carolina brought on by Hurricane Helene. Present at the press conference was Mitch Landrieu who serves as the Harris-Walz campaign co-chair and who was formerly both the Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana and Mayor of New Orleans. Also present were Former Trump Administration official Kevin Carroll, US Representative Kathy Manning, and North Carolina State Senator Micheal Garrett. 

Landrieu began the press conference by detailing how the Trump-Vance campaign is playing politics with disaster aid. According to the Harris-Walz campaign, misinformation is spreading quickly through social media about the federal government’s response to the catastrophic damage in western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene. Landrieu also expressed his concerns for the privatization of the weather service as part of Project 2025, which he feared would lead to a massive loss of essential government resources as the effects of climate change worsen in upcoming years. 

US Representative Kathy Manning at Greensboro Harris-Walz Rally in September.

Photo By: Isabella Wyatt

According to Representative Manning, during Trump’s presidency he was responsible for cutting $115 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) budget. Manning expressed her concerns about the Trump-Vance campaign’s rhetoric that is actively fueling misinformation and making it even more challenging for federal government officials to do their job in western North Carolina. 

Former Trump Administration official, Kevin Caroll, spoke candidly about his time working under Trump. Caroll noted how after Hurricane Maria, he witnessed Trump refuse natural disaster aid to affected counties that didn’t vote for him in 2016. 

NC Sen. Micheal Garrett spoke passionately about his support for current Vice President, Kamala Harris, who he believes is actively making sure impacted areas in western North Carolina get the federal resources they need. In contrast, Sen. Garrett spoke about the Trump presidency, referring to a time Trump appealed an Obama era Executive Order that established the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard due to his donor’s requests, “Trump sold us out, he sold Americans out, in favor of his wealthy supporters.”

When I asked the panel of politicians about youth voter engagement, Representative Manning urged college students to not believe everything they see on social media, and to celebrate their civic duty of voting by voting for a candidate who will fight for them and their voices to be heard.