Ivanka Trump stepped away from the Trump campaign after the whole January 6 incident, but in the wake of the attempted assassination of her father, it looks like she’s back in the public eye. Though not officially campaigning for her dad, she’s been out helping victims of the recent hurricane.
Ivanka Trump visited Hickory, North Carolina, on Wednesday to assist in relief efforts for those devastated by Hurricane Helene. The former first daughter partnered with CityServe, an organization she has supported since her time in the White House, to distribute food, emergency supplies, and Starlink devices donated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egjw6TOw8B8
North Carolina, particularly the Appalachian Mountain region, has been severely impacted by the hurricane, with flooding and landslides cutting off many communities and damaging critical infrastructure. To aid in recovery efforts, Ivanka Trump and CityServe provided hot meals, fresh produce from Planet Harvest, and 300 Starlink devices to help victims access high-speed internet in areas where communication lines have been disrupted.
Dressed in casual attire, Ivanka was seen serving meals, posing for photos with volunteers, and interacting with pilots and airport staff at Hickory Airport, which has been a crucial hub for distributing supplies to the hardest-hit areas, such as Asheville. Relief missions and charity efforts have been using the airport as a base of operations to reach isolated communities affected by the storm.
The impact of Hurricane Helene has been devastating. The death toll has risen to 176 people, with North Carolina alone accounting for at least 90 deaths. Entire communities have been wiped out by flooding, and many roads remain closed, complicating the delivery of aid. Additionally, 1.3 million people are still without power across several states, from Florida to Virginia, making the recovery process even more challenging. Clean water and electricity shortages persist, while downed cell service continues to prevent residents from reaching their loved ones.
Federal agencies have ramped up their response to the disaster. FEMA is currently delivering 20 truckloads of food and 40 truckloads of water each day to affected areas, while the Department of Defense has deployed 22 helicopters to support relief efforts in North Carolina’s most isolated communities. President Joe Biden visited Raleigh, North Carolina, on Wednesday to meet with emergency responders and tour the damage. He announced the deployment of 1,000 active-duty soldiers to assist with recovery efforts.
Ivanka Trump’s work in Hickory is part of her continued focus on philanthropy and humanitarian work since leaving the White House. Through her partnership with CityServe, she has provided aid to displaced people in various crises, including Ukrainian refugees and those affected by the fires in Maui, Hawaii.
Recovery in North Carolina is expected to take months and will require significant resources. As the state works to rebuild, grassroots efforts and federal support will be crucial to helping the devastated communities return to normalcy.