Trump Says His Administration Will Look At FEMA
President Donald Trump didn’t mince words in his first White House interview since being sworn in for his second term, setting his sights squarely on FEMA and its track record under the Biden administration. Speaking with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump signaled that big changes are coming for the federal emergency agency, accusing it of mismanagement and political bias over the past four years.
"FEMA has not done their job for the last four years," Trump declared, referencing what he sees as glaring failures in the agency’s response to disasters like Hurricane Helene, which devastated North Carolina last year.
The storm wiped out homes, businesses, and livelihoods, leaving over 100 dead, and sparked widespread criticism of FEMA’s sluggish and uneven relief efforts. Trump, never one to hold back, accused Democrats of using the agency as a political tool to neglect Republican areas like North Carolina.
"FEMA is a whole 'nother discussion," Trump said. "All it does is complicate everything." It’s a stinging rebuke of an agency meant to coordinate disaster relief but which, under Biden, Trump argues, has become more of a roadblock than a lifeline. He highlighted North Carolina as a prime example of FEMA’s shortcomings, promising to visit the state on Friday to meet with residents still recovering from September’s hurricane—a disaster he claims was mishandled by both FEMA and Democratic leadership.
Trump’s comments hint at a broader shift in his administration’s emergency management philosophy: empowering states to take the lead in disaster response, with the federal government stepping in for financial support rather than micromanaging from Washington. "Let Oklahoma fix it," Trump said, using the Sooner State as an example of how states should handle their own crises before calling on federal aid. It’s a stance that aligns with his long-standing belief in reducing bureaucratic interference and giving power back to state and local governments.
But Trump didn’t stop at hurricanes. He also took aim at California’s handling of wildfires, blasting Governor Gavin Newsom for what he described as misplaced priorities. Trump criticized the state’s environmental policies, which prioritize protecting species like the smelt and Chinook salmon, over tapping into water resources that could be used for wildfire prevention and response.
"There is massive amounts of water," Trump said, accusing the state of releasing critical water supplies into the Pacific Ocean instead of using them to mitigate fires. He plans to visit California on Friday as well, making the case that poor leadership, not just natural disasters, is to blame for the state’s ongoing fire crises.
The president’s upcoming visits to North Carolina and California are more than symbolic; they’re a direct challenge to the way emergencies have been managed under Democratic leadership. Trump’s blunt criticism of FEMA and his focus on empowering states to lead disaster response underscore his broader agenda of reducing federal inefficiency and bringing government back to basics. It’s a message that resonates with his base, particularly in states like North Carolina, where many residents feel abandoned after last year’s hurricane.
Trump’s approach isn’t without controversy. Critics will argue that leaving disaster response primarily to the states could lead to uneven outcomes, particularly in states with fewer resources. But for Trump, the issue is less about resources and more about accountability. FEMA, he argues, has been bogged down by bureaucracy and political agendas, and it’s time to put the focus back on results.