‘Malicious and obscene’: Trump slaps down Colorado disaster relief plea, citizens plead for asistance

Donald Trump threatened Colorado with “harsh measures” unless the state freed Tina Peters, to date the only person convicted of tampering with voting machines in the 2020 election. You might think Trump would love proof that officials were screwing with the votes but, amusingly, Peters was and is MAGA through and through.

Trump doesn’t have the power to pardon her as she wasn’t convicted in federal and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis refused to free her. In response, he screamed: “If she is not released, I am going to take harsh measures!!!”

Now we may know what they are. In August Coloradons suffered the Elk and Lee fires, and in October, southwestern Colorado experienced “record-breaking and devastating flooding”. This is the time for a federal response, for Washington to step in and show regular Americans where their tax dollars are going.

President Donald Trump late Saturday denied Colorado’s request for disaster relief funding following the Elk and Lee fires and Western Slope flooding this summer https://t.co/2gcL7IofU5 pic.twitter.com/jwooLDxxuX

— Denver7 News (@DenverChannel) December 21, 2025

Or at least it would be, but Trump is president. Late on Saturday night, Colorado’s plea for federal disaster relief was denied, with the administration explaining:

The President responds to each request for Federal assistance under the Stafford Act with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement—not substitute, their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters. 

“A disaster is a disaster, regardless of what state in the country it took place”

Colorado seems stunned by Trump abandoning the state to ruin and misery. Senator Michael Bennet described this as “unacceptable”:

“President Trump’s decision to deny Colorado’s request for critical federal assistance is unacceptable. Communities in Western Colorado are in serious need of help after the life-threatening flooding and historic wildfires earlier this year. Trump continues to use Coloradans for political games; it is malicious and obscene. A disaster is a disaster, regardless of what state in the country it took place. Together with Governor Polis and the Colorado delegation, I will take every available step to appeal this decision.”

Bennet went on to say that Trump is playing “political games” with Coloradans’ lives, before going on to “call on the President’s better angels” and make him reconsider. Michael, buddy, I somehow don’t think appealing to Trump’s conscience is going to achieve much.

This appears to be an old-school shakedown technique. If the governor doesn’t want to release the election criminal, his constituents can twist in the wind. Trump is likely hoping they’ll blame Polis rather than him for their woes and vote MAGA when the time comes. But, frankly, I think people are smart enough to see what’s really going on here.