U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited Lackland Air Force Base before heading to Kerrville, Texas, to meet with local leaders, first responders, and victims of last week’s devastating flash flooding. This disaster claimed at least 120 lives, including many children, in the Hill Country region.
During a roundtable discussion in Kerr County, the epicenter of the flood, Trump defended the response from state and federal agencies. He praised Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stating they did an “incredible job” following the calamity. Yet, his visit came amid growing scrutiny of the government’s preparedness and response to the flooding, which struck suddenly early on July 4, coinciding with the U.S. Independence Day holiday.
A reporter’s inquiry about families expressing frustration over delayed warning messages incited Trump’s ire. “I think everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances,” he reacted, adding, “only a very evil person would ask a question like that.” Critics have raised concerns about spending cuts to the National Weather Service and FEMA, questioning whether these reductions hindered effective warnings and disaster preparedness. Despite this, Trump’s administration maintained that these budget cuts had no impact on the National Weather Service’s forecasting abilities.
Kerr County had previously opted against installing an early-warning system, failing to secure state funding for the initiative. Local resident Lawrence Walker, 67, echoed the sentiment that more investment was needed in disaster prevention measures. He stated, “It’s been fine since the water was at 8 feet,” indicating a perception that the government response fell short until the damage was extensive.
In the wake of the flooding, search teams continued to sift through debris in central Texas, still seeking dozens of individuals reported missing. No survivors have been discovered since the immediate aftermath of the disaster, which resulted from torrential rain causing the Guadalupe River to surge from one foot to 34 feet in mere hours.
As Trump toured the devastation in Kerr County, he received briefings from first responders amidst the ruins. The area, known as “flash flood alley,” is notorious for severe flooding, and local officials now report more than 160 individuals remain unaccounted for, although such numbers often include inflated reports.
Among the deceased are 67 adults and at least 36 children, many of whom were campers at Camp Mystic, a long-standing Christian summer retreat. Some residents, like 71-year-old Jon Moreno, expressed a sense of pragmatism regarding the government’s response, acknowledging the challenges of building near flood-prone areas. “It’s unavoidable,” he remarked, suggesting that the inherent risks of living along the river outweighed the potential benefits.
In a visible expression of frustration, a gas station in Kerrville featured a bold message decrying “Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill” for cutting emergency funding. This massive legislative package, designed to advance tax cuts and spending reductions, was signed into law on the same day Texas grappled with the flooding.
As Texas prepares for a special legislative session later this month focused on investigating the disaster and securing relief funding, the communities affected are left to navigate the aftermath of one of the deadliest floods in recent memory.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/12/trump-visits-texas-flood-zone-defends-governments-disaster-response.html
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Publish Date: 2025-07-12 12:02:00
