Trump very reassuringly calls Hurricane Michael a 'massive tornado'


President Trump is still getting the hang of being the nation's comforter-in-chief.
Trump gave some not-so-reassuring comments shortly before Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida on Wednesday. CNN reports that Trump was asked by the press to send a message to those in the storm's path.
"I say God bless you all," said Trump. "That's my message because that's what it is. The storm is there. It's sort of too late to do that now, from the standpoint of moving."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
So there you have it: It is what it is. Or is it? Trump also reportedly called the storm a "massive tornado," which is a completely different kind of storm. The president was similarly comforting last month, when he said Hurricane Florence was poised to be "tremendously big and tremendously wet." The federal government helped in that case, he said, "because we have no choice."
FEMA Director Brock Long on Wednesday said that it's now too late for Floridians to evacuate before the worst of Michael hits. Trump expressed sadness that not everyone had left in time. "You have people that are stuck," he said, "they're just stuck there." But not to worry, he concluded on a more positive note: "They will be okay. They are strong, smart, wonderful people."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Why does Donald Trump keeping showing up at major sporting events?
Today's Big Question Trump has appeared at the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500 and other events
-
‘Democracy is under threat globally’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Job hugging: the growing trend of clinging to your job
In the Spotlight People are staying in their jobs longer than ever
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants