President Donald Trump, sworn in on Monday, took a coast-to-coast trip on Friday to areas recovering from disasters, pondering the elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and linking California’s fire disaster aid to adjustments in voting regulations.

Beginning his journey in Washington D.C. and heading to Asheville, N.C., Trump visited regions in western North Carolina that suffered extensive flooding due to Hurricane Helene last year. He then traveled to Los Angeles to assess the ongoing damage from severe wildfires in the area.

During this initial official trip as president, Trump engaged with governors, local leaders, emergency responders, and homeowners.

Here are some key points from his visit.

Trump and Newsom find common ground

The dynamic between the Republican president and California’s Democratic governor has been historically fraught with conflict.

Trump often refers to Newsom as “Newscum.”

However, on Friday, they put their differences aside to address one of the most significant disasters in recent history.

Newsom greeted Trump at the foot of the stairs as Air Force One arrived in Los Angeles. They shared a warm embrace and addressed the media together.

“We’re gonna need your support, we’re gonna need your help,” Newsom remarked. “You were there for us during COVID, I remember that, and I expect we can collaborate effectively.”

“We’ll get it done,” Trump replied, confirming that California would require substantial federal assistance. Newsom acknowledged this need.

“We’ll take care of things,” Trump assured.

Trump proposes eliminating FEMA

Trump heightened his critique of FEMA by suggesting it might be abolished due to its handling of Hurricane Helene-related issues.

“I’ll be signing an executive order to initiate a fundamental reform and overhaul of FEMA, or possibly even eliminate it,” Trump declared after a briefing in Fletcher, North Carolina. “Frankly, FEMA’s not effective.”

He accused FEMA teams of lacking local knowledge when responding to crises and claimed their imposed guidelines are less effective than those of local officials. He proposed that the federal government should allocate funds directly to governors to handle disaster responses themselves.

“FEMA has proven to be a disaster,” Trump stated. “I think we’re going to suggest that FEMA be dissolved and that we provide funds directly – a percentage to the states.”

After meeting with flood victims in Swannanoa, he further remarked, “If it were up to me, I’d do it immediately.”

Heart-wrenching stories from North Carolina flood survivors

Witnesses of Hurricane Helene from western North Carolina recounted their terrifying experiences with rising floodwaters to Trump on Friday, urgently requesting assistance four months after the calamity.

Thomas Bright shared that he spent four hours stranded on the roof of his family home in east Asheville, which has been in his family for four generations. As water filled his garage and debris floated by, he sent farewell messages to his two children and two grandchildren.

“We didn’t believe we would survive,” Bright reflected. “We saw houses, trailers, and bodies flow past us.”

Mona Nix-Roper, residing in Fairview, conveyed that her home became isolated as water rose around it. While evacuating with her son, they encountered a neighbor’s lifeless body submerged in the water.

“Horrific is the best word I can use,” Nix-Roper said. “People were everywhere searching for their loved ones. There were dead bodies. My son kept warning me, ‘Mom, you’re about to see things you won’t want to witness.’”

After her account, Trump offered her a comforting hug.

“I’ve witnessed many tragic events, but nothing like this,” Trump commented.

Political context hangs over Trump’s disaster visits

The political atmosphere colored Trump’s appearances in the disaster-hit areas of North Carolina and California.

He recalled a whistleblower report that FEMA teams allegedly neglected to assist people displaying Trump’s 2024 campaign signs in their yards. Trump pointed out that both North Carolina and neighboring Tennessee backed him in the last election, with Tennessee being slightly more favorable.

“At this point, it doesn’t matter: Biden mishandled the situation,” Trump remarked.

Furthermore, he urged California to implement stricter voter ID laws to confirm the identities of voters seeking disaster relief for fire impacts near Los Angeles. He reiterated his view that the state ought to redirect funding from projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to combat wildfires.

“I want two things,” Trump told reporters upon arriving in Asheville, North Carolina. “After that, I’ll be the most remarkable president California has ever had.”

Trump did not include Senator Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a frequent critic, on his trip. Schiff, while advocating for potential bipartisan alterations to the Environmental Protection Agency and FEMA, urged Trump against imposing conditions on disaster relief.

“We have never tied help to our fellow citizens’ suffering,” Schiff asserted during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

Trump calls for expedited rebuilding after the fires

After surveying fire damage in Pacific Palisades, Trump met with local leaders in California and encouraged them to expedite the permitting process for rebuilding efforts.

The session, lasting over an hour, frequently revisited the issue of permitting.

Trump stated his intention to expedite or eliminate federal permitting delays in response to the wildfires that ravaged areas surrounding Los Angeles, adding, “I hope the locals will do the same.”

California lawmakers, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and other officials joined Trump at the meeting, sharing insights into recovery initiatives. Trump attentively listened and raised various concerns.

He noted the anxieties of homeowners regarding the lengthy rebuilding process.

“We are fully dedicated to the swift restoration of this community,” Bass ensured.

Trump asserted that permitting should take days instead of months or years.

“A federal permit can often take a decade; that’s not going to happen,” he insisted. “We shouldn’t take even ten days.”

Bass mentioned that officials must consider “hazardous waste,” yet indicated that rebuilding “essentially the same” could facilitate a more efficient process.

“What qualifies as hazardous waste? That needs clarification,” Trump replied, emphasizing: “People should be allowed to begin work on their property immediately.”

“And we will,” Bass confirmed.

Others raised concerns about the insurance challenges facing homeowners. Trump also frequently questioned water management strategies in California.

He reassured the attendees, saying, “The federal government stands firmly behind you,” despite his discussions about potential conditions on federal fire recovery aid.