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.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

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."