On Friday, President Donald Trump visited disaster zones in California and North Carolina and floated the idea of “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), signaling that he’s considering major changes to how the U.S. handles disaster responses.
In California, which is still reeling from devastating wildfires, Democratic leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, pushed Trump for federal aid, even though he’s previously threatened to withhold it. Some of these leaders even set aside past tensions to compliment Trump, hoping for his help. In turn, Trump urged local officials to waive permitting rules so people could start rebuilding immediately, assuring them that federal permits would be fast-tracked.
Rather than funneling disaster relief through FEMA, Trump suggested that the federal government could send funds directly to the states. He made these remarks while in North Carolina, which is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, during his first trip of his second term.
In California, Trump was greeted by Newsom, a frequent critic of the president. Despite their strained relationship, the two appeared to get along during their meeting, with Newsom telling Trump, “We’re going to need your support. You were there for us during COVID. I don’t forget that, and I have all the expectations we’ll be able to work together to get a speedy recovery.” Newsom has praised Trump before, especially during the early days of the pandemic when he described the president as “thoughtful” and “collaborative.”
Trump took a tour of fire-ravaged areas in his Marine One helicopter, eventually landing in Pacific Palisades, an affluent area hit hard by the fires. With First Lady Melania Trump by his side, he walked through the neighborhood, where homes had been completely destroyed, speaking with residents and police officers. Afterward, he called the damage “devastation” and said, “It really is an incineration.”
Despite the cordial exchange with Newsom, Trump’s tone earlier in the day was more confrontational. Even on the plane to Los Angeles, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt referred to Newsom by Trump’s nickname “Newscum,” accusing him of “wronging the people of his state” and saying Trump was there to pressure Newsom and other officials to act in the citizens’ best interest.
Trump also urged that Los Angeles residents who lost their homes should be allowed to return to their properties immediately to clear debris, even though many were told it could take months to rebuild. Mayor Karen Bass, who was present during Trump’s visit, said safety from hazardous materials had to be the priority, but Trump brushed off her concerns, saying, “What’s hazardous waste? We’re going to have to define that.”
Trump has a history of downplaying the risks of asbestos, even writing in his 1997 book The Art of the Comeback that asbestos is “100% safe” once applied and suggesting that opposition to it was driven by mob-affiliated companies.
Before arriving in California, Trump also reiterated that he wanted the state to make concessions in exchange for disaster aid. He suggested changes to water policies and voter ID requirements as conditions for providing assistance.
On top of his criticism of FEMA, Trump has hinted at reducing the federal government’s role in disaster response, a sentiment that mirrors the views of conservative allies who want to cut back on funding and responsibility. FEMA typically steps in when a state’s resources are overwhelmed by a disaster, providing financial help for recovery efforts and individual assistance.
