A post shared on Threads claims President Joe Biden purportedly refused to deploy the 82nd Airborne Division in response to Hurricane Helene.

Post by @steelrider89

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Verdict: False

The claim is false. According to an Oct. 4 article published on the U.S. Army’s website, soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, “to assist with Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts.” In addition, both a White House official and a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) spokesperson denied the claim’s validity in respective emails to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

Hurricane Helene has prompted an intravenous (IV) solution shortage at hospitals across the U.S., according to The Hill. Baxter’s International, a North Carolina-based IV fluid manufacturing company that supplies 60% of IV solution used by hospitals, halted operations as a result of the hurricane, the outlet reported.

The Threads post, which has received over 100 likes, claims Biden purportedly refused to deploy the 82nd Airborne Division in response to Hurricane Helene. “Biden has refused to deploy the 82nd Airborne Division to help their own families and state,” the post, which does not provide a source to support its claim, reads.

The claim is false. According to an Oct. 4 article published on the U.S. Army’s website, soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division traveled to Asheville, North Carolina, “to assist with Hurricane Helene response and recovery efforts.”

“Soldiers, equipment and resources from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division and 20th Engineer Brigade of the XVIII Airborne Corps began movement from Fort Liberty, North Carolina, on Oct. 3, 2024, to affected areas in the vicinity of Asheville, North Carolina. The support package includes rotary wing air support and various engineering equipment used for emergency route clearance,” the article indicates in part.

“Active-duty soldiers will support the dual status commander of North Carolina alongside partners from FEMA and other state and local agencies as needed. The Joint Force Land Component Commander, through USNORTHCOM, is the primary Department of Defense organization coordinating defense support of civil authorities to assist federal partners in responding to natural or man-made disasters,” it continues.

Likewise, an Oct. 2 statement from the White House reiterates that Biden has deployed active-duty soldiers to aid hurricane relief efforts.

Check Your Fact also found no credible news reports suggesting Biden refused to deploy the 82nd Airborne Division in response to Hurricane Helene. Actually, the opposite is true. On Oct. 7, Lead Stories reported the claim was false. (RELATED: Did One Man Pull 1,200 Bodies Out Of A River Following Hurricane Helene?)

In addition, neither the White House nor Biden nor the U.S. Army appear to have publicly responded to the claim.

Furthermore, both a White House official and a DOD spokesperson denied the claim’s validity in respective emails to Check Your Fact.

“This is false. The social media appears to be from October 3, two days after the White House and NORTHCOM spoke about deploying active duty soldiers to assist with recovery operations.  Also on October 3, a small advance team from the 82^nd met with State and FEMA officials on the ground in Western North Carolina to understand their needs in advance of the larger troop support package’s arrival.  More troops (400) arrived on ground in Hickory, North Carolina, on October 4 to assist with recovery operations; an additional 600 arrived the following day,” the White House official said.

“There is no truth to these claims,” the DOD spokesperson said.

Check Your Fact has also contacted the U.S. Army for comment.