President Trump visited North Carolina to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Helene and expressed his intention to potentially abolish FEMA, citing its inadequate response. He believed state governments should handle disaster recovery independently, suggesting direct federal funding to states instead of relying on FEMA.
President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to potentially abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ), citing its inadequate response to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina . During a visit to Asheville, Trump met with residents who voiced their dissatisfaction with FEMA 's support, lamenting the lack of sufficient aid in rebuilding their communities.
A homeowner in Asheville, whose property was destroyed by the hurricane, revealed to Trump that he was currently residing in a camper, highlighting the extent of the damage and the slow pace of recovery. Trump, who earlier briefed emergency responders, stated that he was considering 'getting rid of' FEMA, marking the latest instance of his efforts to overhaul the federal government's disaster response system. 'I think, frankly, FEMA's not good. I think when you have a problem like this, I think you want to go. And, whether it's a Democrat or a Republican governor, you want to use your state to fix it and not waste time calling FEMA,' he asserted.Trump emphasized his commitment to aiding North Carolina, a crucial swing state that has consistently voted for him in presidential elections. He also touched upon his plans for federal assistance in California, where devastating wildfires continue to rage. 'In California, we want them to have voter ID so people have a voice,' Trump declared during the briefing. He further claimed that the release of water reserves could have mitigated the severity of the wildfires, echoing his previous pronouncements on the subject. Trump suggested that the federal government should directly provide funds to states affected by tragedies, bypassing FEMA's involvement, as he believes this would expedite the recovery process. 'I think we're going to recommend that FEMA go away and we pay directly. We pay a percentage to the state, but the state should fix this,' he stated. He also announced that Michael Whatley, the chair of the Republican National Committee, would be instrumental in coordinating recovery efforts in North Carolina. Whatley, a native of the state, holds no official government position
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