A heated debate erupted on Fox News' "The Five" as Jessica Tarlov confronted co-host Jesse Watters over his perceived hypocrisy regarding Donald Trump's handling of the Texas floods. Tarlov accused Watters of failing to hold Trump accountable for spreading misinformation about FEMA funds in the wake of the disaster, particularly when compared to his criticism of the Biden administration during Hurricane Helene.
Tarlov specifically called out Trump's false claims that FEMA was diverting funds to illegal immigrants and providing inadequate assistance to victims. She argued that these lies undermined the recovery efforts and potentially deprived people of much-needed aid. "Trump came out and he said 'they're giving your FEMA dollars to illegals, they're housing them with your FEMA dollars.' Then he said you're only going to get $750 from FEMA – which was a complete lie," Tarlov stated.
She further emphasized that Republican officials had testified to the fact that people did not get their FEMA assistance because of what Trump and other Republicans were saying.
The exchange highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the politicization of disaster relief and the role of media figures in holding political leaders accountable for their statements. Tarlov pointed out that GOP legislature rejected “over $54 billion in identified needs in terms of disaster resistance” that could have helped mitigate the damage from the Texas floods.
Tarlov's Emotional Response to Texas Floods
Beyond the political sparring, Tarlov also expressed deep empathy for the victims of the Texas floods. "Listen, this is one of the more devastating stories that I think we've had to cover," she said, describing the unimaginable grief of parents searching for their children.
Watters' Silence Questioned
Tarlov directly challenged Watters for not denouncing Trump's "lies" about FEMA before the November 2024 re-election. She questioned whether his silence was consistent with his previous criticisms of the Biden administration's disaster response.
The incident underscores the importance of consistent standards in media coverage and the need to avoid double standards when evaluating the actions of different political figures.