Trump will visit disaster zones in North Carolina and California: NPR

On January 25, 2025By Littum

President Trump, who is shown here with first lady Melania Trump, talks to journalists in the White House before leaving for his trip to North Carolina and California on January 24.

Pedro Ugarte/AFP via Getty Images

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Pedro Ugarte/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump takes on Friday his first trip to North Carolina and California, where he visits communities struggling with recovery after natural disasters.

In Fletcher, NC, Trump receives a briefing on recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene – and then meets with families in Swannanoa.

A firefighter and a fire cock in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Trump, who has been critical of Federal Emergency Management Agency, repeated some of his complaints after the country in Asheville, NC

“They’ve been abused by what’s happened,” Trump said. “FEMA has really failed us, failed the country.”

He promised to “deliver the money – deliver a lot of the money” for recovery. But Trump also said he thinks the state’s governments should take care of disasters.

A small white flap church lacks its front wall, parts of the sidewall and part of the roof. A Christmas tree stands "Inside" the church, but exposed to the elements. An American flag stands outside.

Later on Friday, he will tour the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and get a briefing on the forest fires that have ravaged Los Angeles.

Trump has said he feels that North Carolina was being treated “unfairly” by the Biden administration after Hurricane Helene, who hit the midst of the presidential campaign. He has said, without evidence that Democrats withheld help from Republican areas.

He has also indicated that he is seeing assistance to California as a lever to get support from Democrats in Congress to some of his regulatory priorities.

This is a continuing story that can be updated.