WASHINGTON — President Trump will travel to western North Carolina and Los Angeles on Friday, his first trip of his second term, to survey areas where political considerations have influenced disaster relief efforts.
The President has criticized former President Biden’s handling of the North Carolina disaster response and expressed disapproval of California’s water management policies, falsely linking them to recent wildfires.
Trump is also considering FEMA restructuring. Some conservative allies suggest reducing federal reimbursement to states for disaster-related expenses.
The White House has reportedly requested a roundtable discussion with California Democrats at a Santa Monica hangar during the President’s visit, according to a source who wished to remain anonymous due to authorization constraints.
Any meeting could prove contentious. Trump has hinted at using disaster aid as leverage in legislative negotiations or to pressure California to change its water policies.
“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,” Senator Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, stated this week.
Trump has a history of injecting partisan politics and misinformation into disaster responses. During his first term, he reportedly discussed limiting aid to states that did not support him. During last year’s presidential campaign, he unsubstantiatedly claimed Democrats hindered aid to Republican areas of North Carolina.
More recently, he falsely claimed that California’s water policies, specifically fish conservation efforts, led to water shortages in Los Angeles.
“I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down,” Trump said on Wednesday.
The President also suggested shifting more disaster management responsibilities to individual states.
“I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems,” he stated, adding that “FEMA is getting in the way of everything.”
Michael Coen, former FEMA chief of staff under the Biden administration, called Trump’s comments “misinformed,” highlighting FEMA’s crucial role in assisting overwhelmed states.
Coen further criticized the idea of conditioning aid.
“You’re going to pick winners and losers on which communities are going to be supported by the federal government,” he said. “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 zones but often generated controversy, such as his comments to Hurricane Maria survivors in Puerto Rico.
“If you’re a disaster survivor, no matter who you voted for, it’s always good when the president comes to town,” said Pete Gaynor, former FEMA head during the Trump administration (2019-2021). “You can see him and hopefully talk to him about what you need in your community.”
Laurie Carpenter, a 62-year-old North Carolina retiree, expressed anticipation for Trump’s visit due to her dissatisfaction with the federal response. She noted persistent debris and trash months after Hurricane Helene.
“If anybody’s going to do something about it, I think he will,” Carpenter said.
Trump appointed Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL with limited disaster management experience, as FEMA’s acting director. He advocated for state-led disaster response with subsequent federal funding.
Biden pledged full federal coverage of Los Angeles wildfire response costs, potentially the costliest US natural disaster, but this requires Congressional funding.
Friday’s trip may spark discussions on climate change, a topic Trump has downplayed and denied. Both Hurricane Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires were worsened by climate change.
World Weather Attribution’s study indicated climate change increased Hurricane Helene’s rainfall by 10%. California’s record dry fall and winter increased Los Angeles’ wildfire vulnerability.
“This is just breaking our comfort zone of what is supposed to be normal,” stated University of Oregon researcher Amanda Stasiewicz.
Following his North Carolina and California visits, Trump plans a Saturday rally in Las Vegas. Advisors say he will detail plans to exclude tips from federal taxes, celebrating his Nevada election victory.
“I’m going to go to Nevada to thank them,” Trump said. He was the first Republican to win the state since George W. Bush in 2004.
Las Vegas’ economy relies heavily on the hospitality and service industries, where tips are crucial. However, exempting tips from taxes would be complex and require Congressional action for permanence.
—Associated Press writers Stephen Groves, Seth Borenstein and Makiya Seminera contributed to this report.