WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government’s top disaster relief official said Sunday that false claims and conspiracy theories about the federal response to Hurricane Helene — spread most prominently by Donald Trump — are “demoralizing” aid workers and creating fear in people who need recovery assistance.

False claims about the federal response to the historic devastation left by Hurricane Helene are spreading out of control on social media, hampering the recovery efforts in hard-hit areas, according to local officials.

The former president falsely accused the Biden administration of spending disaster funding on migrants, neglecting areas that had voted for Republicans and ignoring a call from a Republican governor.

The U.S. government’s top disaster relief official said Sunday that false claims and conspiracy theories about the federal response to Hurricane Helene — spread most prominently by Donald Trump — are “demoralizing” aid workers and creating fear in people who need recovery assistance.

Administrator Deanne Criswell said misinformation regarding Hurricane Helene and the federal government’s response is “not helpful to people.” In an interview with ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos asked Criswell about the misinformation surrounding the federal response to Hurricane Helene,

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell addressed criticism over the agency's recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene on ABC's 'This Week.'

FEMA has faced many obstacles in their relief efforts, among them rumors swirling in wake of the storm, one of them perpetuated by former President Trump.