Trump begins speaking at event in Texas

Trump begins speaking at event in Texas

President Donald Trump is set to visit Texas on Friday, July 11, following a week of devastating floods that have claimed over 120 lives. The trip comes amid growing questions about the local and federal response to the catastrophic flooding, particularly in Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in less than an hour on July 4, killing at least 121 people, including dozens of children at the nearby Christian summer camp, Camp Mystic [1].

The president's visit will include an aerial tour of some of the hard-hit areas and a visit to the state emergency operations center in Austin. He will also meet with local officials and first responders. Trump has largely focused on his relationship with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican and strong ally, rather than criticizing the response to the disaster. This is a departure from his past reactions to other disasters, such as the California wildfires earlier this year, where he blasted Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and other local officials [1].

The White House has defended the federal response, with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stating that the federal government does not manage disasters but supports the states. However, Noem also criticized FEMA for "gross mismanagement and negligence" during the Biden and previous administrations [1]. The acting FEMA Administrator, David Richardson, had yet to visit the affected areas in Texas as of Thursday afternoon [1].

The Trump administration has backed the response to the Texas floods via FEMA, sending funds for disaster recovery, property losses, and temporary housing. Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Texas earlier this week. However, the administration has avoided discussing Trump's prior plans to phase out FEMA and its key functions being carried out at the state and local level [2].

The visit to Texas is a significant event for the Trump administration, given the high death toll and the ongoing search for over 170 missing people. The focus will be on the government's response and the support provided to the affected areas. The visit also comes as the Trump administration faces criticism over its handling of other issues, such as inflation, immigration, and cuts to the federal government [3].

References:
[1] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-heads-texas-after-catastrophic-flooding-avoiding-criticism/story?id=123650032
[2] https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/donald-and-melania-trump-to-visit-texas-one-week-after-flash-floods-killed-over-120-people-101752247366375.html
[3] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/03/04/donald-trump-speech-address-to-congress-live-updates/81142181007/