SWANNANOA, N.C. (AP) 鈥� President said he was considering 鈥済etting rid of鈥� the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a trip to disaster zones Friday, offering the latest sign of how he is weighing sweeping changes to the nation's central organization for responding to disasters.
Instead of having federal financial assistance flow through FEMA, the Republican president said Washington could provide money directly to the states. He made the comments while visiting , which is still recovering months after Hurricane Helene, on the first trip of his second term.
鈥淔EMA has been a very big disappointment," the Republican president said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very bureaucratic. And it鈥檚 very slow."
Trump said Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native and chair of the Republican National Committee, would help coordinate recovery efforts in the state, where frustrations over the federal response have lingered. Although Whatley does not hold an official government position, Trump said he would be 鈥渧ery much in charge.鈥�
While the president emphasized his desire to help North Carolina, a battleground state that's voted for him in all of his presidential campaigns, he was much less generous toward California, where he plans to visit Los Angeles later in the day.
Trump reiterated that he wants to extract concessions from the Democratic-led state in return for disaster assistance, including changes to water policies and requirements that voters need to show identification when casting ballots.
Beyond Trump's criticism of FEMA, he's suggested limiting the federal government's role in responding to disasters, echoing comments from conservative allies who have proposed reducing funding and responsibility.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see the states take care of disasters," he said after landing in the Asheville area. 鈥淟et the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen.鈥�
Trump, who was accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, said that would be quicker and cheaper than sending in FEMA.
鈥淔EMA just hasn鈥檛 done the job," the president said. "We鈥檙e looking at the whole concept of FEMA.鈥�
to disasters when local leaders request a presidential emergency declaration, a signal that the damage is beyond the state's ability to handle on its own. FEMA can reimburse governments for recovery efforts such as debris removal, and it gives stopgap financial assistance to individual residents.
Trump former President for his administration鈥檚 response to Helene in North Carolina. As he left the White House on Friday morning, he told reporters that 鈥渋t鈥檚 been a horrible thing the way that鈥檚 been allowed to fester鈥� since the storm hit in September, and 鈥渨e鈥檙e going to get it fixed up.鈥�
After a briefing on recovery efforts, Trump traveled to a small town outside Asheville to meet with residents who have been helped by Samaritan鈥檚 Purse, a humanitarian organization headed by evangelical leader Franklin Graham. The residents told him about wading through waist-deep water to escape from their homes while fearing for their lives. Some have battled with insurance companies to get their losses covered.
鈥淲e鈥檝e come to North Carolina with a simple message," Trump said. 鈥淵ou are not forgotten any longer. You were treated very badly by the previous administration.鈥�
鈥淭his is our president," one woman told him. "We appreciate you so much鈥�
FEMA has distributed $319 million in financial assistance to residents, but that hasn't alleviated the feeling of abandonment among residents who are struggling to rebuild their lives.
Laurie Carpenter, a 62-year-old retiree in Newland, North Carolina, said there鈥檚 still debris and trash strewn around her part of the state. She was looking forward to Trump's visit because she鈥檚 been disappointed by the federal response.
鈥淚f anybody鈥檚 going to do something about it, I think he will,鈥� Carpenter said.
Sarah Wells Rolland, 65, whose Asheville pottery studio was destroyed by flooding, is less enthusiastic. Her town leans Democratic, and she's worried that Trump won't prioritize its rebuilding.
鈥淚鈥檓 not overly optimistic that the Trump administration is going to do anything long-term,鈥� she said.
Once in California, Trump plans to tour the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where rows of homes He鈥檚 expected to receive a briefing on the fires, , with thousands of people under evacuation orders.
Trump has showered California leaders with disdain for water policies that worsened the recent blazes. He said he would 鈥渢ake a look at a fire that could have been put out if they let the water flow, but they didn鈥檛 let the water flow.鈥�
Members of Congress will be at the briefing, and the meeting Trump has suggested using federal disaster assistance as a bargaining chip during unrelated legislative negotiations over government borrowing, or as leverage to persuade California to change its water policies.
鈥淧laying politics with people鈥檚 livelihoods is unacceptable and a slap in the face to the Southern California wildfire victims and to our brave first responders,鈥� said Rep. Young Kim, a Republican from Orange County, south of Los Angeles, in a recent statement.
Trump has been focused on , specifically fish conservation efforts in the northern part of the state.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we should give California anything until they let the water run down,鈥� Trump said Wednesday in an interview with Fox News Channel鈥檚 Sean Hannity.
Michael Coen, who served as chief of staff at FEMA during the Biden administration, said Trump was 鈥渕isinformed鈥� about an agency that provides critical help to states when they are overwhelmed by catastrophe.
In addition, Coen criticized the idea of attaching strings to assistance.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to pick winners and losers on which communities are going to be supported by the federal government," he said. "I think the American people expect the federal government will be there for them on their worst day, no matter where they live.鈥�
The last time Trump was president, he visited numerous disaster zones, including the aftermath of hurricanes and tornadoes. He sometimes sparked criticism, like when he to survivors of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
Trump tapped Cameron Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL with limited experience managing natural disasters, as FEMA鈥檚 acting director.
Before leaving office, Biden vowed that the federal government would cover all the costs of responding to the wildfires around Los Angeles, which could end up being the . However, that promise won't be kept unless Congress comes up with more funding.
Friday's trip could prompt some uncomfortable conversations about climate change, which Trump has played down and denied. Both Helene and the Los Angeles wildfires were exacerbated by global warming.
In Helene鈥檚 case, a study by international climate scientists at World Weather Attribution found that climate change In California, the state suffered 鈥� its traditional wet season 鈥� which made the area around Los Angeles more vulnerable to blazes.
鈥淭his is just breaking our comfort zone of what is supposed to be normal,鈥� said University of Oregon researcher Amanda Stasiewicz.
After visiting North Carolina and California, Trump plans to hold a rally Saturday in Las Vegas.
___ Associated Press writers Stephen Groves and Seth Borenstein contributed to this report.
Will Weissert, Chris Megerian And Makiya Seminera, The Associated Press
