President Donald Trump criticized FEMA on Wednesday, claiming the agency has failed during the Biden administration. "FEMA has not done their job for the last four years," Trump said in an exclusive interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
He highlighted past successes under his leadership, such as handling hurricanes in Florida and tornadoes in Alabama. "Without the right leadership, it just doesn’t work," Trump added, suggesting states should manage emergencies themselves before involving the federal government.
Trump also praised Oklahoma, where he won all 77 counties in the 2024 election. He argued that states like Oklahoma should take the lead in emergency responses. "I love Oklahoma, but if they get hit with a tornado, let Oklahoma fix it. Then the federal government can help with money," Trump said. He claimed FEMA has been obstructing efforts, particularly in Republican areas.
He pointed to North Carolina as an example of FEMA’s failures. Hurricane Helene devastated the state last year, destroying homes and killing over 100 people. Trump accused FEMA and the Biden administration of neglecting Republican regions. "The Democrats don’t care about North Carolina," he said. "FEMA complicates everything instead of helping."
Trump plans to visit North Carolina on Friday to address the ongoing struggles from the hurricane. "I’m stopping in North Carolina first because those people were treated badly by Democrats," Trump said. He vowed to help the state recover and fix what he described as mismanagement by FEMA.
On the same day, Trump will head to California, which has faced destructive wildfires this month. He intends to highlight failures in emergency response under Democratic leadership. "And then I’m going to California," he said, criticizing Gov. Gavin Newsom for prioritizing environmental policies over effective wildfire prevention.
Trump has repeatedly blamed Newsom for mismanaging the state’s natural resources. "There is massive water from rain and snowmelt, but they’re releasing it into the Pacific Ocean," Trump said. He argued this water could be used to improve fire prevention and response.
The trip underscores what Trump calls the failures of Democrats in emergency management. He aims to bring attention to what he describes as poor leadership at both state and federal levels. "We’re going to get this straightened out," Trump said of his upcoming visits to North Carolina and California.