Biden faces no questions from White House reporters about Hurricane Helene during surprise opportunity.

On Friday, President Biden made a surprise appearance at the White House press briefing, giving reporters a rare chance to ask him questions. However, they failed to inquire about the ongoing disaster in the Southeast caused by Hurricane Helene.

Biden made his first appearance at a White House press briefing since taking office, discussing the suspended port workers strike and Friday's positive jobs numbers. He also announced that he may request additional money from Congress to fund Hurricane Helene relief efforts. However, there was no follow-up from the press on hurricane relief.

What is your response to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's claim that today's jobs report contains fake numbers? Are you concerned that many Americans may believe the jobs numbers are not accurate?

The Middle East crisis was the main topic of discussion, with concerns about Biden's remarks on Iranian oil facility strikes, Israeli plans to retaliate, potential U.S. sanctions, and fears of Netanyahu influencing the U.S. election.

Reporters prioritized election security and the peaceful transfer of power in their reporting.

"One reporter inquired, "How do you feel about the upcoming election? Do you have confidence in its fairness and peaceful outcome? Additionally, are you taking any preparations and receiving security briefings related to domestic security?""

The only mention of Hurricane Helene with a death toll of over 230 was in a question about Vice President Kamala Harris' role in the administration.

How has your vice president, who is running for the presidency, addressed the crises facing the country over the past several days, including the hurricane, port strike, and situation in the Middle East?

The Biden-Harris administration has been criticized by former President Trump for their handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which has resulted in numerous fatalities and is considered one of the deadliest hurricanes of the century.

The White House has responded strongly to criticism of the federal response to Hurricane Helene, highlighting that Biden has coordinated the effort and authorized emergency declarations. Over 4,800 personnel from FEMA and other agencies have been deployed to North Carolina and neighboring states affected by the hurricane. Furthermore, FEMA has shipped over 8.5 million meals, 7 million liters of water, 150 generators, and 220,000 tarps to aid in the response efforts, as stated by the White House.

The federal government has given more than $45 million in individual assistance to survivors affected by the storm, including one-time $750 payments from FEMA to qualified applicants in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, as announced by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday.

Planet Chronicle' Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.