Iowa, Republican Steve King, is hitting hard the victims of Hurricane Katrina

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Speaking Thursday at a city hall in his district, King hinted that victims of Hurricane Katrina had sought the government's help after the deadly storm, thus pushing a racial stereotype.

"Here's what FEMA told me … We're going to a place like New Orleans, and everyone is looking around saying," Who's going to help me? Who will help me? "King said, adding that he had made four trips to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"We're going to a place like Iowa, and we're going to see, knock on the door and say, I'm going to make a name for myself, at John's, and say, 'John, you've got it.' water in your basement, we can give you a check, we can help you, and John will say, "Well, wait a minute, let me take my boots. That's Joe who needs help. Let's go down to his house and help him, "said King.

He added that FEMA is "always satisfied when she sees Iowans taking care of each other, and so it's a point of pride that spreads across the country wherever I know it" .

King's comments came as he was discussing heavy floods in parts of the Iowa and Midwest. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts requested and received federal Disaster Assistance funding earlier this week.
Although devastating, the floods in Iowa and Nebraska resulted in a handful of deaths, while Katrina was responsible for more than 1,500 deaths in Louisiana alone.

FEMA spokeswoman Lizzie Litzow rejected King's remarks on Friday.

"Recent comments from @ SteveKingIA on @FEMA comparing recovery efforts are inaccurate," she said. tweeted. "All disasters are unique and our mission remains clear: we are here to help all peoples before, during and after disasters."

CNN asked King's office to comment.

Lawmakers in Louisiana quickly condemned King's remarks, including the House minority whip, Steve Scalise, a Republican who represents part of New Orleans, claiming that King's remarks were "absurd and offensive." ".

"His comments on the victims of Katrina are absurd and offensive, and go against the strength and resilience that the people of New Orleans demonstrated to the entire nation as a result of the devastation. that they have suffered, "said Scalise in a statement delivered to CNN.

On Twitter, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, described King's comments as "disgusting and discouraging."

"When communities are affected by disasters, we come together to help, not to tear ourselves apart," he said.

Representative Cedric Richmond, a Democrat whose district includes New Orleans, said, "I am very moved by all the Iowans, although it bothers me that (King) dares to compare them to the countless victims of Katrina, many of whom have lost your life. "

"When people show you who they are, believe them, Steve King is a white supremacist and I will not accept it," Richmond said on Twitter.

King was recently the subject of an investigation for sharing a Facebook post this weekend, claiming that the Red States would "win" a fight against the blue states and that they "have" 8 trillion bullets. He then deleted the post.
In January, the Republican of Iowa was removed from office on the committee after making favorable remarks to white supremacy in the New York Times, although King said his remarks had been taken out of their favor. context.

CNN's Devan Cole contributed to this report.

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