President Trump on Wednesday was sharply critical of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), suggesting at one point states should handle their own response to natural disasters but still have the federal government provide money.
“FEMA has not done their job for the last four years…But unless you have certain types of leadership, it’s really, it gets in the way,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “And FEMA is gonna be a whole big discussion very shortly, because I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems.”
“I love Oklahoma,” Trump continued. “But you know what, If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it. And then the federal government can help them out with the money.”
Trump repeatedly attacked the Biden administration and FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. A FEMA worker was fired last year after they told aid workers not to go to homes with Trump yard signs, further inflaming GOP criticism of the response.
The president has yet to name a nominee to lead FEMA in his administration, though multiple outlets have reported a leading contender is Kevin Guthrie, who is the current executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Trump is set to travel Friday to view damage and recovery efforts in North Carolina and in Los Angeles, which has been ravaged by wildfires in recent weeks.
