Trump’s FEMA Director Said He Didn’t Know U.S. Has a Hurricane Season. Officials Now Claim It Was a Joke

President Donald Trump’s acting Federal Emergency Management Agency chief reportedly told staff he did not know that the United States has a hurricane season, but officials claim the statement was simply a joke.

David Richardson, who assumed the acting administrator of FEMA role in late May, is said to have made the comment during a briefing on Monday, June 2, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the situation.

The outlet reported that it was unclear whether the comment was made literally or as a joke. But a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed the comment was made in jest, according to NBC News.

The spokesperson also said Richardson is “activated in preparation for Hurricane Season,” which began on Sunday, June 1 and concludes at the end of November.

“Despite meanspirited attempts to falsely frame a joke as policy, there is no uncertainty about what FEMA will be doing this Hurricane Season,” the spokesperson said. “FEMA is laser focused on disaster response, and protecting the American people.”

A DHS spokesperson also told Reuters that “FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens” under Richardson and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Despite previously telling staff to expect a new disaster response plan in May, Richardson told staffers during the daily briefing that there actually would be no changes made, according to Reuters.

Richardson reportedly said in a May 15 meeting that a new plan would be available for review on May 23, but has now said that a new disaster plan wouldn’t be issued, suggesting he does not want to make changes that could contradict the FEMA Review Council.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted that there could be six to 10 hurricanes this season. Three to five of those storms could become major hurricanes, which are classified as storms that reach Category 3 status or higher.

According to NOAA, there is a 60% chance of an above-normal hurricane season, and just a 10% chance of a below-normal season.

The above-normal prediction was made due to several factors, including “warmer than average ocean temperatures, forecasts for weak wind shear, and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes.”

“This outlook is a call to action: be prepared,” said NOAA’s National Weather Service Director Ken Graham. “Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you’re ready before a storm threatens.”

NOAA also predicted an above-normal hurricane season for 2024. Eleven storms reached hurricane status, falling within the eight-to-13 range predicted by forecasters ahead of the season. 

Five of those storms achieved major hurricane status, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, falling within the predicted four-to-seven range.

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As North Carolina continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, President Trump recently denied the state’s request to match “100 percent federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures,” according to ABC News and MSNBC.

A total of 250 people were killed by the storm in seven states, including 107 in North Carolina, according to a report released in April by NOAA.