Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to visit North Carolina, a state he argues has been “abandoned by the Democrats” in the wake of Hurricane Helene. As reported by Breitbart, Trump, speaking to reporters, outlined his upcoming travel schedule, which includes stops in North Carolina, Los Angeles, and Nevada.
“We’re going to take care of Los Angeles. I’m going there — I’m going to North Carolina, which has been abandoned by the Democrats,” Trump stated. “And I’m going to North Carolina very importantly first. I’ll be there on Friday, and then I’m going from there to Los Angeles, and then I’m going to Nevada.”
Trump’s remarks come as western North Carolina communities, including Asheville, Chimney Rock, and Swannanoa, continue grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
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The hurricane caused severe flooding, landslides, and destruction across the region, also impacting parts of Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. Residents in these areas have expressed frustration with what they view as an inadequate federal response under the Biden administration.
Many North Carolinians have been vocal about the lack of timely support from federal agencies. Asheville resident Jordan Lanning spoke to Fox News host Jesse Watters, sharing her disappointment with the Biden administration’s delayed reaction.
“It’s too late. I mean, they took too long. It took them five days to get here. I mean, it took five days for Biden to come here, and he didn’t think we were worth coming down to see us himself. He had to fly over on his way to Raleigh. It’s disgraceful. They keep saying, ‘We the People.’ There is no ‘We the People.’ It’s them versus us. They’re not for us.”
Lanning’s sentiments reflect a broader frustration among residents who reported little to no presence from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other federal resources in their communities. Some have noted that they’ve had to rely on local efforts and their own resilience to recover from the storm’s devastation.
BREAKING: Trump suggests getting rid of FEMA and making the states pay for disaster relief.
FACT: 3 of the top 4 FEMA aid recipients recently are:
Texas, Florida and North Carolina.
How do you all feel about this?
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) January 23, 2025
In October, FEMA announced that more than $45 million had been allocated for Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Of that total, North Carolina received over $17 million, while Florida was awarded $23 million. Georgia, Virginia, and South Carolina saw smaller amounts, with each state receiving under $5 million combined.
Despite these figures, critics, including Trump, argue that the response has been inadequate. Trump labeled the Biden administration’s handling of Hurricane Helene as a “disgrace” and a “betrayal,” sentiments echoed by many residents in the affected areas.
President Trump announces he will visit North Carolina on Friday to assess the progress of relief after the hurricanes, followed by a visit to Los Angeles to survey the wildfires devastation. pic.twitter.com/PCj9dDpHJ8
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 21, 2025
Trump’s upcoming visit to North Carolina is expected to highlight what he views as the administration’s neglect of hard-hit communities and to draw attention to the state’s ongoing recovery challenges.
His remarks have further underscored the political divide over disaster response, as many conservatives see the situation as emblematic of broader government failures under Democratic leadership.
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