President Trump on Wednesday harshly criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at one point suggesting that states should respond to natural disasters on their own, but still receive funding from the federal government.
“FEMA hasn't done its job for the last four years…but unless there's some kind of leadership, it's really a hindrance,” President Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “And FEMA is going to be a big topic soon, because I want states to take care of their own problems.”
President Trump continued, “I love Oklahoma.” “But if we get hit by a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it, and the federal government will help fund it.”
President Trump has repeatedly attacked the Biden administration and FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Helen, which devastated parts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. FEMA employeewas firedCriticism of the Republican response increased last year when aid workers were told not to go to a house with a sign in President Trump's yard.
The president has not yet named a candidate in his administration to lead FEMA, but multiple media outlets are reporting that a likely candidate is Kevin Guthrie, currently executive director of the Florida Emergency Management Agency.
President Trump is scheduled to visit on Friday to inspect damage and recovery efforts in North Carolina and Los Angeles, which have been hit by wildfires in recent weeks.
