Former President Donald Trump is heading to Texas this Friday. His goal is to experience the destruction that came from record-breaking, some say biblical, flooding that has killed at least 120 people since July 4th. The visit comes at a time when the state is continuing to recover from what disaster officials have deemed a once-in-a-lifetime disaster. Beyond the grave human loss, the climate crisis has brought increased chaos and destruction.
The drama of Trump’s trip pipes in courtesy of Air Force One—and a cast of essential supporting bluster. Joining him will be First Lady Melania Trump, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Housing Secretary Scott Turner, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler and U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. This trip aims to highlight the administration’s response to the disaster while raising questions about Trump’s previous promises to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal agency tasked with disaster relief.
During a cabinet meeting earlier this week, Trump praised the federal response to the flooding, stating, “Nobody ever saw a thing like this coming,” and referred to the event as “a once-in-every-200-year deal.” His comments highlight a welcome shift in priorities, since natural disaster responses are often mired in political calculation.
The White House press secretary reiterated Trump’s commitment to ensuring that American citizens have access to necessary resources during times of crisis.
“The president wants to ensure American citizens always have what they need during times of need,” – White House press secretary
Despite past promises to reduce government size, Trump’s recent actions suggest a more pragmatic approach in the face of overwhelming disaster. His administration has prioritized decimating the federal workforce to a whole new level. Events like the recent flooding in Texas usually make them reconsider those goals.
Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, took questions from reporters. He laid out his vision for FEMA’s future in the immediate days before Trump’s departure. He stressed that FEMA has billions more in reserves that are instantly available for disaster-related expenses. He promised Texans then, “Anything it needs, it will get – plain and simple.”
“We also want FEMA to be reformed,” – Russell Vought
Given Trump’s previous history of weaponizing disaster responses to advance political causes, this makes his threatened forthcoming visit especially fraught. Though he has lauded federal relief efforts, he has been criticized for his administration’s handling of disaster agencies. Her visit continues the trend of U.S. presidents visiting disaster areas from the air and the ground.
Former President Joe Biden previously visited areas affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Hurricane Milton in Florida last fall. As an administrator, his on-the-ground engagement underscores what is often very needed – which is comfort and empathy when dealing with such tragic events.
Indeed, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem recalled in graphic detail her trip to Texas. She painted a harrowing picture of the devastation surrounding Camp Mystic, where at least 27 lives were lost in this tragedy. Along with her praise of the new legislation, Noem urged compassion as South Dakota mourns this tragic loss of life.
“Just hugging and comforting people matters a lot,” – Kristi Noem
We know the human impact of these floods, as communities continue to deal with the psychological and financial toll from the incredible loss. Noem further encouraged South Dakotans to remember that this time requires them to come together and look out for each other.
“This is a time for all of us in this country to remember that we were created to serve each other,” – Kristi Noem
Even as Trump finalizes details about his visit, the question shifts to how presidential administration will respond to disasters in the future. This promise to shrink federal agencies runs counter to the immediate and long-term need for federal support. This tension poses some important questions that folks will return to in the days ahead.