Donald Trump is once again under fire after he made what appeared to be a threat toward North Carolina residents during one of his most recent rallies.

The president recently gave a speech in North Carolina as part of a campaign rally for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley. During his remarks, he turned heads with several comments he made about the state as a whole, calling it one of the ‘worst’ states in the country and, more notably, subtly threatened to withhold FEMA funding if the Republican Senate candidate did not win in the upcoming election. On social media, users expressed their anger at the president, especially considering the recent damage brought about by Hurricane Helene. Read more about what he had to say and how the internet reacted below.

President Trump Threatens To Withhold FEMA Funding From North Carolina In Recent Speech

President Trump appeared at a campaign rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, on Wednesday to support Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, who is running against former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper for the state’s open Senate seat. He promoted Whatley’s candidacy and discussed the federal response to Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of western North Carolina in 2024.

During the speech, Trump appeared to tie additional FEMA disaster funding for North Carolina to the outcome of the Senate race. After saying the state had already received more than $2 billion in FEMA funding and that additional money was being awaited, he told the crowd that if Whatley lost in the upcoming election, he would “not send it.”

“We spent more than $2 billion in FEMA funding,” he said. “You know, you’re waiting for some additional funding…and I’m gonna get that to you, Michael. Now if Michael loses, I’m not sending it. No, I’m only kidding. You’re getting it. You’re gonna get it, Michael. He’s been bugging me.”

Social Media Slams Donald Trump For His FEMA ‘Joke’

Online, social media users have been recirculating the clip of the 80-year-old ‘joking’ about not sending FEMA funding to the state during its next natural disaster.

Given that Hurricane Helene, which devastated the state of North Carolina and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, occurred just two years ago, the joke was especially offensive and caused a massive wave of online backlash.

“This is just outrageous,” responded an X user. “He is the president for ALL Americans, not just the ones [who] vote for him. Stop normalizing this appalling authoritarian behavior.”

“He’s unfit for office!” wrote another. “Vote and get these fascists out of here!”

“How can he get away with this?” a user commented. “Vindictive and operating outside the law, denying federal funding only to Democratic states.”

“Disgusting,” replied a user. “People and communities are just a chip in his con and grift game.”