Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas Amid Backlash Over Disaster Response
By; USA NEWS TODAY
July 11, 2025
President Donald Trump traveled to central Texas on Friday to assess the devastating aftermath of catastrophic flooding that has claimed over 100 lives. The trip comes as his administration faces mounting criticism over the federal response to the disaster and renewed scrutiny of FEMA’s effectiveness.
Entire neighborhoods were overwhelmed in minutes by flash floods, triggering sharp concerns about the adequacy of early warning systems and the speed of emergency response. Delays caused by new federal spending restrictions reportedly hampered FEMA’s ability to act swiftly in the early days of the crisis.
During his visit, Trump aims to spotlight ongoing search and rescue efforts and demonstrate solidarity with the people of Texas. A White House aide described the trip as a clear message: “President Trump wants people to know he’s paying attention, and he sees himself as someone who takes action.”
Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, the President is scheduled to meet with first responders, receive briefings from local officials, and connect with families affected by the disaster. Officials say the visit was carefully coordinated to avoid disrupting recovery operations.
Among those joining Trump are Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Senator Ted Cruz, and Senator John Cornyn — the latter currently embroiled in a tough primary fight with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Notably, Paxton’s wife filed for divorce just a day earlier, citing “biblical grounds.”
Despite showcasing support for Texas, Trump’s broader emergency management policies are under fire. His administration has consistently pushed to scale back FEMA’s role or dismantle it entirely, drawing alarm from emergency response experts and Democrats alike.
The contrast between Trump’s support for red states like Texas and his previous clashes with Democratic leaders, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom during wildfire crises, has raised questions about political favoritism. A GOP strategist bluntly put it: “There’s a clear difference in how he treats red states versus blue.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson strongly rejected such claims, calling accusations of preferential treatment “idiotic and misinformed.” She pointed to recovery efforts in California and North Carolina as evidence of Trump’s bipartisan commitment.
Still, Trump has a history of politicizing disaster response. In recent years, he has blamed former President Biden for wildfires in Hawaii and floated vague allegations about Biden’s link to flooding in North Carolina and Texas — though he later walked back such claims.
This time, Trump has avoided casting blame, instead praising Governor Abbott and local responders while asserting that the scale of the flooding made it nearly unavoidable. “There’s never been a wave like this, outside of the breaking of a dam,” he said earlier this week.
Yet behind the scenes, tensions simmer. FEMA’s search-and-rescue deployment was delayed more than 72 hours due to new budgetary controls. Critics say this proves that the federal government, not just states, must maintain robust disaster response systems.
A group of House Democrats called for congressional hearings, warning that gutting FEMA would worsen future crises. They cited internal reports showing that bureaucratic red tape significantly slowed the federal response in Texas.
Secretary Noem defended the administration’s performance, but reiterated her call to dismantle FEMA in its current form. “Disaster management should be state-led,” she said. Some Texas officials agreed, framing their response as a model for other states.
Ultimately, Trump’s decision to visit Texas underscores a core political instinct: show up for voters who supported him. “This is totally on brand,” said one source close to the White House. “He knows the value of showing his face in places that back him.”
The visit adds to a growing national conversation about how America prepares for — and responds to — natural disasters, particularly as climate change increases their frequency and severity.
