WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is set to visit western North Carolina, which has been severely affected by hurricanes, as well as Los Angeles, where devastating wildfires have wreaked havoc. This marks the first trip of his second term, focusing on regions where political disputes have complicated the responses to these catastrophic events.
The Republican president has openly criticized former President Joe Biden’s administration for its handling of the situation in North Carolina. Furthermore, he has expressed his contempt for California officials regarding water management policies, which he incorrectly asserted have exacerbated the recent wildfires.
Trump is contemplating significant changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Several of his conservative supporters have suggested decreasing federal reimbursements to states for expenses incurred during natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
According to an unnamed source, the White House has invited congressional representatives from California, including Democrats, for a roundtable discussion at an airplane hangar in Santa Monica during the president’s visit.
The meeting is expected to be contentious. Trump has hinted at using federal disaster aid as a bargaining tool in unrelated legislative discussions about government funding or to push California to modify its water policies. Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat from California, stated, “Southern California and California has always been there for other regions of the country in their time of crisis, and we expect our country to be there for us.”
Historically, Trump has intertwined politics with disaster recovery. During his previous administration, he suggested limiting assistance to Democratic states that did not support him. While campaigning for reelection, he made unfounded claims that Democrats were deliberately neglecting Republican areas in North Carolina.
Recently, he inaccurately maintained that California’s water conservation efforts in the northern region were responsible for the dry hydrants in Los Angeles. In an interview, he stated, “I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down.”
Additionally, the president proposed assigning more disaster response responsibilities to individual states rather than relying on FEMA, asserting, “FEMA is getting in the way of everything.”
Michael Coen, who was the chief of staff at FEMA under the Biden administration, described Trump as “misinformed” regarding the agency, which plays a crucial role in assisting states overwhelmed by disasters. Coen also condemned the notion of conditional federal assistance, arguing, “You’re going to pick winners and losers on which communities are going to be supported by the federal government. I think the American people expect the federal government will be there for them on their worst day, no matter where they live.”
During his first presidency, Trump visited numerous disaster sites, including areas hit by hurricanes and tornados. His visits were sometimes marred by controversy, like the incident where he tossed paper towels to hurricane survivors in Puerto Rico. Pete Gaynor, who headed FEMA between 2019 and 2021, noted, “If you’re a disaster survivor, no matter who you voted for, it’s always good when the president comes to town.”
Laurie Carpenter, a 62-year-old retiree living in Newland, North Carolina, expressed anticipation for Trump’s visit, citing frustrations with the federal response. She pointed out lingering debris in her community months after Hurricane Helene. “If anybody’s going to do something about it, I think he will,” she remarked.
To lead FEMA, Trump has appointed Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL with limited experience in disaster management. He believes that states should have primary control over disaster responses, with federal intervention serving mainly to provide funding afterward.
Biden had previously pledged that the federal government would cover all costs associated with wildfire responses around Los Angeles, which could potentially be the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history. However, fulfilling that commitment depends on additional funding from Congress.
Friday’s visit is likely to spark uncomfortable dialogues around climate change, a topic Trump has historically downplayed. Both Hurricane Helene and the wildfires in Los Angeles were heightened by global warming factors. A study indicated that climate change intensified Helene’s rainfall by 10%, while California dealt with an unusually dry fall and winter, increasing wildfire risk in the Los Angeles region. “This is just breaking our comfort zone of what is supposed to be normal,” commented Amanda Stasiewicz, a researcher at the University of Oregon.
After concluding his tours in North Carolina and California, Trump plans to hold a rally in Las Vegas on Saturday. His advisors have indicated that he will discuss plans to keep a campaign promise regarding tax exemptions for tips, and he aims to express gratitude to Nevadans for their support, as he was the first Republican presidential candidate since 2004 to win the state. Las Vegas’s economy largely depends on hospitality and service workers whose livelihoods rely on tips, but implementing tax exemptions for gratuities may require congressional action to ensure permanence.
