President Donald Trump is set to visit areas in western North Carolina and Los Angeles that have been severely affected by natural disasters this Friday. This marks his first trip after beginning his second term, focusing on regions where political disputes have complicated responses to devastating events.
During his visit, Trump plans to criticize the federal government’s handling of the situation in North Carolina under former President Joe Biden, while also expressing his disapproval of California’s leaders regarding alleged mismanagement of water resources, which he inaccurately claims have exacerbated local wildfires.
Furthermore, Trump is contemplating significant changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Supporters from his conservative circle have suggested decreasing the financial aid the agency provides to states dealing with various calamities such as floods and hurricanes.
The White House has reportedly invited California congress members, including Democrats, to a roundtable discussion at an aircraft hangar in Santa Monica coinciding with Trump’s visit. However, this potential meeting may become contentious, as Trump has previously suggested using federal aid as leverage for unrelated legislative debates about government borrowing and as a means to push California to modify its water management policies.
California’s Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat, emphasized the expectation that the federal government supports states, particularly when they have aided others during crises.
Trump has a track record of intertwining political agendas with disaster relief, as past officials from his administration noted he considered withholding assistance from Democratic states that didn’t align with him politically. Furthermore, while campaigning last year, he claimed with no evidence that Democrats made efforts to neglect assistance for Republican-dominated regions.
Recently, he made unfounded accusations that water policies in northern California, aimed at fish conservation, were responsible for water shortages affecting the fire-stricken areas of Los Angeles.
In a recent interview, he stated, “I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down,” calling for a shift toward greater state control in disaster management, arguing that FEMA often hinders recovery efforts.
Michael Coen, who served as FEMA’s chief under Biden, argued that Trump’s views on the agency are misguided. He highlighted the importance of FEMA’s support during disasters and criticized any plans to attach conditions to federal assistance, asserting that the American populace rightfully anticipates that the government will assist them in times of need—regardless of their location.
During his previous presidency, Trump toured several disaster zones, including areas impacted by hurricanes and tornadoes. However, his visits often sparked controversy, such as when he tossed paper towels to hurricane survivors in Puerto Rico.
Local residents, like 62-year-old Laurie Carpenter from Newland, North Carolina, expressed hope for Trump’s visit, lamenting the lack of adequate federal response to Hurricane Helene, which left debris in her community months after the event. “If anybody’s going to do something about it, I think he will,” she remarked.
In his efforts to reform FEMA, Trump appointed Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, to serve as acting director despite his limited disaster management experience. He has suggested that states should take responsibility for handling disasters first, with the federal government stepping in only to provide financial support afterward.
President Biden previously assured that the federal government would cover all the expenses related to the wildfires near Los Angeles, which might become the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history, though this promise hinges on Congress securing additional funding.
Trump’s upcoming trip is expected to bring up challenging discussions about climate change, an issue he has often dismissed. Both Hurricane Helene and the wildfires in Los Angeles have links to climate change, with studies indicating that global warming intensified the impact of these disasters.
After his visits to North Carolina and California, Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday where he will discuss plans regarding a campaign vow to exclude tips from federal taxes while also celebrating his victory in Nevada during the last Election Day.
“I’m going to go to Nevada to thank them,” Trump stated, highlighting that he was the first Republican candidate to win the state since George W. Bush in 2004.
The Las Vegas economy thrives on hospitality and services, where workers such as waiters, valet attendants, and hotel staff rely heavily on tips. However, implementing a tax exemption for these gratuities might prove challenging and would require congressional approval to become permanent.
