Trump tours Texas flood devastation while avoiding criticism he's heaped on other governors

[ad_1] President Donald Trump is touring the devastation left by flash flooding in central Texas amid rising questions on how native officers responded to the disaster in addition to questions in regards to the federal response -- together with the destiny of the Federal Emergency Administration Company -- that he has thus far averted.

Trump's go to on Friday comes per week after heavy rainfall induced the Guadalupe River in Kerr County to rise 26 toes in lower than an hour, killing a minimum of 121, together with dozens of youngsters on the close by Christian summer season camp, Camp Mystic.

He and first girl Melania Trump will see flood-affected areas and take part in a roundtable with first responders and native officers. The 2 left the White Home on Friday morning, with the president stopping to take some questions from reporters.

"It is a horrible factor. A horrible factor. No person may even consider it," Trump mentioned of the catastrophic flash flooding.

"However we'll be there with among the nice households and others, the governor, everyone," he added.

Accompanying him to Kerr County, one of many hardest hit areas, are Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.

Donald Trump gestures alongside Melania Trump, as they arrive on Air Pressure One at Kelly Subject air base in San Antonio, Texas, en route to look at flood injury in Kerrville, Texas, July 11, 2025.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Sen. Ted Cruz, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Sen. John Cornyn arrive at Kelly Subject air base in San Antonio, Texas, en route to look at flood injury in Kerrville, Texas, July 11, 2025.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The seek for greater than 170 folks nonetheless lacking continues with greater than 2,100 responders on the bottom in Texas from native, state and federal companies.

In the meantime, native officers are underneath scrutiny about what steps have been taken to adequately warn folks and the way lengthy it took for authorities to take motion based mostly on escalating climate and different alerts.

Trump, notably, hasn't engaged in related criticism about how the disaster was dealt with -- as he has achieved within the case of different disasters.

"I might simply say it is a hundred-year disaster, and it is simply so horrible to look at," Trump mentioned on Sunday.

As a substitute, Trump has largely targeted on his relationship with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott -- a Republican and robust ally of the president.

"We have been in contact with Gov. Abbott, I am very near Gov. Abbott, and everyone in Texas," Trump mentioned on Sunday.

Donald Trump speaks to the press earlier than boarding Marine One on the South Garden of the White Home in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2025.

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP through Getty Photographs

It is a marked distinction to how Trump has reacted up to now, together with to the California wildfires earlier this yr, the place he blasted California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and different native Democratic officers.

A number of the hardest-hit areas of central Texas, together with Kerr County, are areas of robust Republican assist that voted for Trump within the 2024 election.

Trump accepted a serious catastrophe declaration for Texas earlier this week.

Abbott mentioned throughout a information convention on Tuesday that he spoke with Trump that morning and acquired assurances that help could be offered.

"He couldn't cease speaking about how unhappy he was for all of the little women who've misplaced their lives," Abbott mentioned. "He recounted his personal understanding of what occurred with what was actually a tsunami wave, a wall of water, that swept too lots of them away."

"And he cares rather a lot about these younger women. And he desires to step up and make it possible for any want that now we have right here in Texas goes to be met in a short time," Abbott continued.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks throughout a press convention, July 8, 2025, after touring injury from flash flooding in Hunt, Texas.

Eli Hartman/AP

The White Home has pushed again closely on criticism of the administration's cuts to the Nationwide Climate Service, which led to some to query if staffing ranges or forecasting talents have been impacted.

"Blaming President Trump for these floods is a wicked lie, and it serves no goal throughout this time of nationwide mourning," White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned from the briefing room podium on Monday.

Trump's additionally averted answering questions on whether or not he's nonetheless aiming to part out FEMA.

Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem, mentioned the federal response to the floods throughout a Cupboard assembly on Tuesday.

"We as a federal authorities do not handle these disasters, the state does," Noem contended. "We are available in and assist them. And that is precisely what we did right here on this scenario. FEMA went to an enhanced degree instantly. However as quickly as you signed the most important catastrophe declaration, we have been capable of get them sources and {dollars} immediately, similar to you envisioned by state lot grants to assist them with cleanup. And we're nonetheless there in presence."

A automobile drives by a street flooded by the waters of the Guadalupe River, in Hunt, Texas, July 9, 2025.

Umit Bektas/Reuters

Later within the week, although, Noem went after FEMA through the Biden and different earlier administrations -- alleging the company has suffered from "gross mismanagement and negligence."

"The checklist of well-known failures is staggering," Noem claimed in feedback to the FEMA Advisory Council, a activity power designed to suggest reforms to the company, together with doable dismantlement of the company because it exists right this moment. Trump appointed Abbott as a brand new member to the group again in April.