Miles Bennett
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, supporters of President Donald Trump claimed that former President Barack Obama was golfing during the hurricane. However, this is inaccurate, as Obama was actively involved in the relief efforts, cancelling campaign events and returning to the White House to monitor the storm. Obama's response to Hurricane Sandy stands in contrast to Trump's handling of Hurricane Harvey, where Trump spent the initial days visiting his golf club and making unrelated trips. While Obama did face criticism for golfing during his presidency, it is important to note that Trump has spent significantly more time at golf clubs and has a larger carbon footprint due to air travel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Obama's response to Hurricane Sandy | Cancelled a campaign event, returned to the White House to monitor the storm, led a conference call with mayors and governors to streamline a response, and visited the Red Cross |
| Obama golfing during Hurricane Sandy | No evidence found |
| Trump's response to Hurricane Harvey | Pardoned former sheriff Joe Arpaio, insulted Mexico on Twitter, travelled between Camp David and his New Jersey golf club, visited Corpus Christi without meeting residents, and went to Missouri to discuss tax cuts |
| Trump's response to criticism of his golfing | Defended himself by drawing attention to Obama's golfing, claimed the media was "sick with hatred and dishonesty", and accused them of ignoring his own carbon footprint |
| Comparison of Trump and Obama's golfing | Trump has spent more time golfing and has a larger carbon footprint from air travel; Obama played 98 rounds of golf at this point in his presidency, while Trump has spent all or part of 248 days at a golf course |
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What You'll Learn
Obama did not golf during Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy made landfall on October 29, 2012, just days before Barack Obama was re-elected for his second term as president. That morning, he canceled a campaign event in Orlando and returned to the White House to monitor the storm, according to Fox News. The next day, he led a conference call with 20 mayors and governors to streamline a response to the storm before visiting the Red Cross headquarters.
A now-iconic photo, taken by then-White House photographer Pete Souza, shows Obama hugging a woman on the Jersey Shore, which was devastated by the storm just weeks before the 2012 election. This wasn't Obama's first time showing up to support those affected by a hurricane.
Contrary to claims by supporters of President Donald Trump, Obama did not play golf during Hurricane Sandy. Instead, he was actively involved in the disaster response and relief efforts. Trump, on the other hand, has been criticized for his handling of Hurricane Harvey and has spent significantly more time at golf clubs compared to Obama at the same point in their respective terms.
While it is true that Obama did play golf during his presidency, he faced criticism for golfing in 2014 while on vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, shortly after condemning the murder of journalist James Foley. Obama later conceded that golfing so soon after the tragic event was a mistake, demonstrating his awareness of the importance of optics and empathy in leadership.
In conclusion, Obama did not golf during Hurricane Sandy. He prioritized his presidential duties and offered support to those affected by the hurricane, showcasing his empathy and leadership skills.
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Obama's response to Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast of the United States in October 2012, causing severe damage to areas of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. The storm resulted in power outages, flooding, and the destruction of homes and businesses, leading to a loss of nearly 160 lives. In response to this crisis, President Barack Obama took several decisive actions to address the situation and support the affected communities.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, President Obama canceled a campaign event and returned to the White House to closely monitor the situation. He prioritized the needs of the affected communities, demonstrating his commitment to the people. The president also met with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to receive briefings and discuss preparation and response strategies. This proactive approach ensured that federal teams were ready to collaborate with state and local officials to tackle the challenges posed by the hurricane.
President Obama then visited New York and New Jersey to assess the storm damage firsthand and meet with local residents, first responders, and elected officials. He surveyed devastated areas, including Breezy Point in Queens, where more than 100 houses were burned to the ground. During his interactions with the people, Obama promised full support from the federal government throughout the recovery process. This personal involvement symbolized his commitment to helping those impacted by the hurricane.
The Obama administration provided assistance to over 230,000 people and businesses through various departments, including FEMA, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Department of Labor. The federal government focused on legislative reforms, innovations, and public-private partnerships to enhance disaster preparedness and management. In January 2013, President Obama signed two critical pieces of legislation, demonstrating his commitment to long-term recovery efforts.
Additionally, Obama's response to Hurricane Sandy had a broader impact on the narrative surrounding climate change. With his reelection and remarks during his second inaugural address, he signaled that addressing climate change was a priority on his agenda. In June 2013, the administration unveiled its Climate Action Plan, emphasizing carbon reduction, adaptation, preparedness efforts, and international collaboration. This shift in focus toward adaptation and resilience in the climate change debate was influenced by the lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy.
While there were criticisms of President Obama's response to Hurricane Sandy, particularly in terms of the timing of his actions, his overall handling of the crisis was generally viewed as a positive aspect of his leadership.
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Trump's response to Hurricane Harvey
Trump visited Corpus Christi, Texas, a city impacted by the storm, but not as badly as Houston and Galveston. He spent "far more time in the air than on the ground", and during his short time there, he praised FEMA administrator Brock Long for his fame and congratulated himself on the "crowd" he drew. He did not meet with any residents. Trump also visited Missouri the next day to explain how corporate tax cuts would benefit Americans.
Trump's remarks about the rescue efforts during Hurricane Harvey raised some eyebrows in Texas. He praised the Coast Guard for saving 16,000 people, many in Texas, and commented on people going out in their boats to watch the hurricane, stating, "that didn't work out too well." Trump's focus seemed to be on ensuring his administration's response to a major hurricane was better than that of former Republican President Bush during Hurricane Katrina.
Trump's administration approved a Texas Disaster Declaration, allowing residents and business owners in designated counties to apply for assistance. The federal government mobilized more than 21,000 workers for the response effort.
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Obama's golfing habits compared to Trump's
During his presidency, Barack Obama was criticized by Donald Trump for golfing during crises, such as Hurricane Sandy. However, it is important to note that these claims were false, and Obama was actively involved in handling the hurricane, cancelling campaign events and returning to the White House to monitor the situation.
Comparing the golfing habits of Obama and Trump, it is evident that Trump has spent significantly more time on the golf course during his presidency. Data shows that Obama played 98 rounds of golf during his presidency, averaging 31 rounds per year, while Trump played 75 rounds in his first year and 63 in his second, a total of 138% more than Obama. Trump has also made more trips to golf clubs, with 30 visits to Palm Beach, Florida, compared to Obama's three trips to Hawaii.
Trump's focus on Obama's golfing habits during his presidency was a recurring theme, with Trump tweeting about Obama's golfing 27 times, often suggesting he should be working instead. Despite his criticism, Trump himself has spent one in five days playing golf during his presidency, with visits to his golf courses in Florida and Virginia.
The difference in their golfing habits is further highlighted by the fact that Obama conceded that golfing minutes after condemning the murder of journalist James Foley was a mistake, showing a level of accountability and awareness of the optics of his actions. In contrast, Trump has defended his golfing habits, blaming the media for not covering Obama's golfing and claiming that Obama played more golf than anyone in America.
In summary, while Trump criticized Obama for golfing during crises like Hurricane Sandy, these claims were untrue, and Obama was actively engaged in managing the situation. Furthermore, a comparison of their golfing habits reveals that Trump has spent considerably more time on the golf course and has been inconsistent in his criticism, playing golf frequently during his own presidency.
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Obama's empathy for Sandy victims
Hurricane Sandy made landfall on October 29, 2012, just days before Barack Obama was re-elected for his second term as US President. That morning, Obama canceled a campaign event and returned to the White House to monitor the storm. The next day, he led a conference call with 20 mayors and governors to streamline a response to the storm before visiting the Red Cross headquarters.
Obama's response to Hurricane Sandy stands in stark contrast to that of President Donald Trump, who defended his handling of Hurricane Harvey by falsely claiming that Obama was golfing during Hurricane Katrina. In reality, Obama was helping with the relief effort in Houston. Trump's response to Hurricane Harvey was marked by a lack of empathy and connection to those affected by the storm. Instead, he spent the first few days pardoning former sheriff Joe Arpaio, insulting Mexico on Twitter, and traveling between Camp David and his New Jersey golf club.
While Obama did face criticism for golfing on a few occasions during his presidency, including once after announcing the murder of journalist James Foley by ISIS, it is clear that Trump has spent significantly more time golfing and has a larger carbon footprint from golf-related air travel. Obama's golfing incidents were often marked by his acknowledgment of the potential negative "optics", whereas Trump has repeatedly criticized the media for their coverage of his frequent golfing trips.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Obama did not golf during Hurricane Sandy. He was president at the time and was monitoring the situation from the White House.
On October 29, 2012, Obama canceled a campaign event and returned to the White House to monitor the storm. The next day, he led a conference call with 20 mayors and governors to streamline a response to the storm before visiting the Red Cross headquarters.
No, Obama was not the president during Hurricane Katrina. He was helping with the relief effort in Houston.
Yes, there is a well-known photo taken by then-White House photographer Pete Souza that shows Obama hugging a woman on the Jersey Shore, which was devastated by the storm.
Obama played 98 rounds of golf during his presidency. This is much less compared to President Trump, who has spent all or part of 248 days at a golf course during his first term in office.
