President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited parts of the country hit by natural disasters on Friday, marking their first trip since his second term inauguration. The couple arrived in western North Carolina, where recovery efforts are still underway after Hurricane Helene caused severe damage to the area last year.
They then planned to travel to Southern California, which has been grappling with destructive wildfires. Trump has threatened to withhold relief funds from California unless the state reroutes water to its southern regions. After this, Trump was scheduled to head to Nevada, where he would spend the night before a campaign-style rally in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Back in Washington, Trump was set to address the 52nd annual March for Life rally, which opposes abortion, via video. Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune were also slated to speak. Additionally, the Senate was expected to vote on Pete Hegseth’s confirmation to lead the Pentagon later in the evening.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, in his speech at the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., expressed solidarity with anti-abortion advocates, emphasizing that “every life is precious.” He assured the rally-goers that they were not alone in their fight. House Speaker Mike Johnson shared a personal story about being born from an unplanned pregnancy, thanking his parents for choosing life. On Thursday, Trump had granted pardons to 23 anti-abortion activists, highlighting his support for the cause.
In North Carolina, Trump intensified his criticism of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), suggesting that he might abolish it due to its poor response to Hurricane Helene’s aftermath. He expressed frustration with FEMA, claiming that its crews were unfamiliar with local areas and did not meet the standards of state and local officials.
He further stated that the federal government should provide funding directly to governors to manage disaster response. “FEMA has turned out to be a disaster,” Trump said, hinting at the possibility of reforming or even disbanding the agency.
The politics of disaster relief were evident during Trump’s visit to North Carolina, as he pointed to a whistleblower report that FEMA crews had refused to assist people displaying Trump’s 2024 campaign signs. He also linked North Carolina’s support for him in the previous election to the state’s needs for better disaster response. Trump suggested that California should adopt voter ID laws to ensure that voters are citizens, as part of the conditions to receive disaster aid for the wildfires affecting Los Angeles.
Trump also criticized former President Joe Biden’s response to the disaster, which claimed the lives of 104 people, left 73,000 homes severely damaged, and left Asheville without running water for two months. Trump did not mince words, stating, “Biden did a bad job.”
In Tennessee, Republican Governor Bill Lee, whose state was also impacted by Hurricane Helene, thanked Trump for his help in the region. Lee acknowledged the challenges faced by both North Carolina and Tennessee, and praised Trump for not forgetting the people of Appalachia.
During the briefing, Trump joked about which state had given him more votes in the last election. “It was Tennessee,” he said, humorously adding that North Carolina had come in second. Lee pointed out that one of the counties devastated by the hurricane had supported Trump with an overwhelming 88% of the vote.
Throughout his visit, Trump’s political agenda remained apparent, as he tied the recovery efforts to his campaign promises and criticized the response efforts of the current administration. The visit to North Carolina and the remarks made there painted a clear picture of the ongoing tension between Trump’s administration and FEMA, as well as his attempts to continue influencing the political landscape ahead of the upcoming election.
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