On Friday (January 24), President Donald Trump visited the western part of North Carolina, which was hit by a hurricane, and Los Angeles, which has been affected by fires. This was his first visit since taking office for the second time, aiming to inspect how political factors affect emergency response and disaster relief efforts.
Trump had criticized California’s water resource policies, believing that these policies have impacted disaster relief efforts.
According to an anonymous source, the White House has invited California congressmen to hold a roundtable meeting in a hangar in Santa Monica during Trump’s visit.
Trump may make efforts to persuade California to change its water resource management policies, as he believes that California’s water resource policies, especially the fish protection efforts in the northern part of the state, have led to fire hydrants drying up in the Los Angeles area.
During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Trump said, “I think we should not give them anything until they let the water run down in California.”
Trump has also criticized former President Biden for mistakes in the disaster relief efforts in North Carolina and is considering reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by transferring responsibilities to state governments to effectively deal with disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
He told Hannity, “I prefer that each state solve its own problems.” He also added, “FEMA is hindering everything.”
Pete Gaynor, who served as the head of FEMA from 2019 to 2021 during Trump’s first term, optimistically stated, “If you are a disaster survivor, no matter who you vote for, it’s always a good thing when the president visits your town. You can see him and have the opportunity to talk to him about the needs of your community.”
Laurie Carpenter, a 62-year-old retired resident of Newland, North Carolina, expressed her anticipation for Trump’s visit, as she was disappointed by the federal government’s response during Hurricane Helene. She said that months after the hurricane, the debris and trash in her area had not been cleared properly.
Carpenter said, “If anyone is going to do something about this, I think he will.”
Trump has appointed former Navy SEAL Cameron Hamilton as the acting head of FEMA. He also expressed the view that responsibilities should be divided, with natural disaster response being the responsibility of states rather than FEMA, and the federal government should only provide funding afterwards.
This differs from the policy of the Biden administration, which generously takes on all responsibilities. Before leaving office, Biden stated that the federal government would bear all costs of combating wildfires near Los Angeles. This wildfire could ultimately become the most expensive natural disaster in American history unless Congress provides more funding, in which case this promise may not be fulfilled.
After visiting North Carolina and California, Trump plans to hold a rally in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday.
His advisors have stated that he will be celebrating unexpectedly winning Nevada on election day. Trump said, “I’m going to Nevada to thank them.” He is the first Republican candidate to win the state since George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in 2004.
During his time in Las Vegas, Trump will also outline how he plans to fulfill his campaign promise of repealing the federal tip tax. The 24-hour economy in Las Vegas is primarily driven by the hospitality and service industries, where everyone from restaurant servers to valet attendants to hotel housekeepers relies on tips. To exempt them from taxes, a bill would need to be passed by Congress to make the exemption permanent.
(This article refers to reporting by the Associated Press)