A video showcasing American efforts to maintain power in Ukraine has sparked controversy amidst widespread outages in the United States.
According to Breitbart News, USAID Administrator Samantha Power posted a video on Friday detailing how the United States is helping Ukraine maintain its power supply.
The timing of this video has drawn criticism, as nearly 700,000 American homes and businesses are currently without power following the devastating Hurricane Helene.
In the video, Power stands at an energy substation in western Ukraine, explaining the impact of Russian attacks on the country's infrastructure and highlighting USAID's efforts to replace damaged equipment. She emphasizes the agency's commitment to helping Ukraine keep its lights and heating operational throughout the winter months.
The stark contrast between the focus on Ukraine's power grid and the current situation in the United States has not gone unnoticed. NBC News reports that hundreds of thousands of American customers are experiencing power outages across several states.
South Carolina and North Carolina are among the hardest hit, with over 260,000 and 215,000 customers without power, respectively. Georgia follows closely with more than 190,000 affected customers, while Virginia reports over 10,000 outages.
These widespread domestic power issues have led to a significant backlash against Power's video, with many viewing it as tone-deaf given the current struggles faced by American citizens.
The response to Power's video has been overwhelmingly negative, particularly from those directly affected by Hurricane Helene. Anna Hitrova, a photographer from Asheville, North Carolina, shared her frustration on social media, noting that she had been without power for nine days when she viewed the USAID administrator's post.
Hitrova's comment encapsulates the sentiment of many affected Americans:
I am watching this video in a house without power. The sun has just set. So you are making sure the lights stay on in Ukraine while thousands of Americans are currently still sitting in the dark.
She further emphasized that mountain communities in her area would likely face even longer periods without power than her location in East Asheville.
The controversy has attracted attention from political figures as well. Richard Grenell, who served as acting director of national intelligence under former President Donald Trump, voiced his criticism of Power's video on social media.
Grenell highlighted the extensive damage and loss of life caused by Hurricane Helene, pointing out the devastation in parts of America, particularly in Asheville, North Carolina. He characterized Power's video as "tone-deaf," given the current domestic crisis.
The USAID video highlighting efforts to maintain power in Ukraine has sparked controversy amid widespread power outages in the United States following Hurricane Helene. Nearly 700,000 American homes and businesses are without power, leading to criticism of the agency's priorities. The incident has reignited debates about balancing foreign aid commitments with pressing domestic needs during times of crisis.
