Donald Trump has visited disaster zones in California and North Carolina and said he is considering “getting rid” of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
in california the president flew over several neighborhoods devastated by forest fires on Marine One, the presidential helicopter.
He and first lady Melania Trump landed in Pacific Palisades, a particularly hard-hit community in Los Angeles that is home to some of the state’s rich and famous. The couple walked down a street where all the houses had been burned and talked to local residents.
“It is devastation. “It really is an incineration,” Trump said.
Trump was met by California Gov. Gavin Newsom after Air Drive One landed in Los Angeles and the two appeared to be on cordial terms, even though the president had frequently attacked the governor, whom he called “Newscum.”
“We are going to need your support. “We are going to need your help,” Newsom told him.
Newsom welcomes Trump to Los Angeles. Photo: AP
At a press conference, when Mayor Karen Bass said residents should be able to return to their homes within a week, but that keeping people safe from hazardous materials was a top priority, she was interrupted by Trump, who said: “What is hazardous waste? “We will have to define that.”
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The president has criticized California’s water policies, specifically fish conservation efforts in the northern part of the state, which he says made recent fires worse.
He said he would “take a look at a fire that could have been put out if they had let the water run, but they didn’t let it run.”
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Donald Trump and Melania tour the most affected neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. Photo: AP
The president calls FEMA “a disaster”
Earlier in the day, Trump visited North Carolinawho is still recovering from the effects of September’s Hurricane Helene, where he thought out loud about eliminating FEMA.
“FEMA has turned out to be a disaster,” Trump said. “I think we recommend that FEMA go away.”
The agency responds to natural disasters and can reimburse state governments for recovery efforts and provide interim financial assistance to affected residents. Distributed $319 million in financial assistance to North Carolinians.
Trump said that instead of financial assistance flowing through FEMA, it could be provided directly from Washington to states in need.
“I would like to see states take charge of disasters,” he said. “Let the state take care of tornadoes and hurricanes and all the other things that happen.”
