President Donald Trump spent Friday touring disaster zones in North Carolina and California, musing about abolishing FEMA and conditioning fire recovery aid on voting law changes. He visited areas impacted by severe flooding and wildfires, meeting with governors, officials, responders, and property owners on his first official trip as president. Trump made amends with California Governor Newsom, setting aside their contentious relationship to work together on disaster relief. He criticized FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene and suggested getting rid of the agency in favor of sending funding to governors. Survivors of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina shared their harrowing experiences with Trump, pleading for help. Trump emphasized the need for fast-track permitting to rebuild after fires, meeting with local officials in California to address the issue. He proposed waiving or speeding up federal permitting and expressed a commitment to quickening the rebuilding process. Trump also discussed water management policies and insurance issues faced by homeowners during his visit. Despite political shadows, including criticism of Biden’s response to disasters and calls for voter ID laws in California, Trump focused on addressing the needs of those affected by the disasters. He expressed a desire to be the “greatest president California has ever seen” and reassured residents of federal support for recovery efforts.
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