U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday floated shuttering the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during a trip to disaster areas in North Carolina and California, where he pledged government support and sparred with Democratic officials.
Fresh from assuming office on Monday, Trump’s visit showcased a desire to show up early in the two states, hit by a hurricane and massive wildfires, respectively. But he punctuated the visits with criticism of FEMA, vowing to sign an executive order to overhaul or eliminate the main federal agency that responds to natural disasters.
“FEMA has turned out to be a disaster,” he said during a tour of a North Carolina neighbourhood destroyed by September’s Hurricane Helene. “I think we recommend that FEMA go away.”
Trump accused FEMA of bungling emergency relief efforts there and said he preferred that states be given federal money to handle disasters themselves.
The president has also criticised California’s response to the Los Angeles fires, which have caused widespread destruction, but he pledged to work with Governor Gavin Newsom and offered help to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass while visiting the state.
“We’re looking to get something completed. And the way you get it completed is to work together to govern the state, and we’re going to get it completed. They’re going to need a lot of federal help,” Trump told reporters after Newsom met him on the tarmac when Air Force One landed later in Los Angeles.
Newsom, a Democrat who has had a tense relationship with the Republican leader, told Trump that California would need his support.
Trump has accused Newsom and Bass of “gross incompetence” and Republican colleagues in Congress have threatened to withhold disaster aid.
During a meeting with California officials, Trump sparred with Bass and another Democratic lawmaker, pressing the mayor to use her emergency powers, let people get back to their properties quickly, and allow them to remove debris on their own. Bass emphasised the importance of safety and the lawmaker, Representative Brad Sherman, praised FEMA’s work.
Trump asked Richard Grenell, a former ambassador to Germany, to represent him in the response to the California fires.
(Reuters)
