Controversy Surrounds Congressional Weather Control Claims Amid Hurricane Helene

A far-right congresswoman has sparked significant controversy following a string of conspiratorial comments related to the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. In a post shared with her 1.2 million followers on the social media platform X, the U.S. House representative claimed, “Yes they can control the weather. It’s ridiculous for anyone to lie and say it can’t be done,” without specifying who “they” might be. The congresswoman is known for previously promoting conspiracy theories involving the federal government and various other entities.

The congresswoman reinforced her stance by sharing a clip from a 2013 CBS News segment discussing experimental efforts to induce rain and lightning using lasers. She erroneously cited the broadcast year as nine years ago. The congresswoman’s comments have been met with widespread criticism, given her history of spreading misinformation. Deanne Criswell, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), openly criticized these claims, stating, “It’s frankly ridiculous, and just plain false. This kind of rhetoric is not helpful to people.” Criswell emphasized that such theories hinder the work of disaster relief efforts and demoralize workers providing aid.

Shawn Harris, vying for the congresswoman’s congressional seat, criticized her statement as a distraction from her alleged failure in attempting to block FEMA funding crucial for handling Hurricane Helene’s aftermath. Ryan Maue, a well-known meteorologist, also refuted the congresswoman’s weather modification assertions, stating that while some conspiracy theories may hold merit, “the weather modification theory is not one of them.”

Moreover, Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina condemned the propagation of such theories, pointing out the severe destruction left by Helene across western North Carolina. While not directly naming sources, he argued against turning natural disasters into opportunities for political agendas. The Charlotte Observer‘s editorial board negatively addressed the misinformation regarding Helene, explicitly criticizing former President Trump for similar false statements.

Sports figures have also joined the discourse. Martina Navratilova, a legendary tennis player, took to social media to criticize both the congresswoman and Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, following Vance’s praise of the congresswoman at a recent rally. Navratilova remarked, “Marj is even more stupid than we thought possible,” while calling Vance “a cowardly sycophant.”

The congresswoman faces backlash for reportedly attending a football game between the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia alongside Trump while Hurricane Helene was impacting her home state of Georgia, which she represents in Congress. Her presence at the game has been perceived as hypocritical amidst the unfolding crisis in her home state.