'Fox & Friends' defends Trump funding detention centers with FEMA disaster relief money: 'This is a national emergency'

The co-hosts of “Fox & Friends” weighed in on the Trump administration’s plans to divert $155 million originally earmarked for FEMA disaster relief to help fund immigration enforcement. The move comes as Hurricane Dorian barrels towards Puerto Rico, which is still recovering after 2017’s disastrous Hurricane Maria.

Many have criticized the re-allocation of funds in the middle of hurricane season, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called the move “stunningly reckless.”

“Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade defended the funds transfer, saying “the president has to be resourceful and put his people in place. This is a national emergency. I am concerned about the security. I am concerned about the facilities, the humanitarian concerns at the border. So are Democrats.” He added, “Where do you expect him to get the money from? Cash in Trump Tower? Re-mortgage it? What do you want him to do?”

Kilmeade further defended President Trump’s decision. “You complain about the lack of beds and lack of facilities but you don’t want to fund it. So he decides, ‘I gotta take money from Homeland Security to fund it,’ because this is a Homeland security issue, and you want to vilify the president and the administration for doing something you’re complaining he wasn’t doing,” said Kilmeade. “Welcome to Washington!” added co-host Steve Doocy.

The money will also go towards purchasing extra beds for detention centers, which many critics of the centers have pointed out is something that’s desperately needed. Co-host Ainsley Earhardt also defended the move, saying, “Disaster relief isn’t just for hurricanes or tropical storms.”

Earhardt also questioned why Democrats would oppose the new funding since they were the ones who raised concerns. She speculated, “Maybe the Democrats don’t want the beds; they just want them released.” Doocy agreed with Earhardt, replying, “On the nose!” as Kilmeade echoed Doocy’s sentiment with a “yes!”

Viewers on Twitter were split over whether transferring the disaster relief funds during hurricane season to help fund border security was a good move, with many expressing that they think the move is a mistake:

Others agreed with the “Fox & Friends” panel that Pelosi is off-base with her assessment, and that the funds would be of better use at the border:

'Fox & Friends' guest calls out Taylor Swift, Alison Brie for political statements at the VMAs:

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