Post falsely claims Biden refused to deploy Army division in North Carolina | Fact check
The claim: Biden refused to deploy 82nd Airborne Division as of Oct. 3
An Oct. 3 Threads post (direct link, archive link) claims President Joe Biden withheld aid from those affected by Hurricane Helene.
"Biden has refused to deploy the 82nd Airborne Division to help their own families and state," the post reads, referencing the U.S. Army unit based at Fort Liberty in North Carolina.
The post garnered more than 100 likes in six days.
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Our rating: False
Biden activated the division on Oct. 2, a day before the post was shared. The troops were mobilized within the next 24 hours.
82nd Airborne Division activated in North Carolina
North Carolina residents are still recovering from the widespread flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 200 people.
In response, the White House announced in an Oct. 2 statement that Biden activated 1,000 active servicemen in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Press releases from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and Department of Defense that same day said the activated soldiers included members of the 82nd Airborne Division and that they would be moving to the affected areas within the next 24 hours.
The DOD said the soldiers were authorized "to support the delivery of food, water, and other critical aid 'over the last mile to the point of need' to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene."
Fact check: No, Biden didn't say he's done sending aid to Hurricane Helene victims
The division shared a video of its members delivering aid to North Carolina in an Oct. 3 X post. The following day, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper published photos of himself and members of the division and state National Guard on Threads.
USA TODAY reached out to the Army, the White House and the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Lead Stories and Check Your Fact also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
Department of Defense, Oct. 2, Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder on DOD Support to Hurricane Helene Response Efforts
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Oct. 2, President Biden Approves Governor Cooper’s Request for Active-Duty Military Personnel and Equipment for Western North Carolina
Army, accessed Oct. 9, 82nd Airborne Division
Roy Cooper, Oct. 4, Threads post
82nd Airborne Division, Oct. 3, X post
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 82nd Airborne Division mobilized in North Carolina | Fact check
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