exclusive – J.D. Vance on Monday made his first trip as vice president to Damascus, Virginia, visiting areas affected by Hurricane Helen in late September, “making good on a promise” to American voters.
Mr. Vance's Damascus has been in business since the hurricane struck the Southeast on Sept. 27, destroying parts of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida and killing more than 200 people. This is my second visit.
“Vice President Vance visited Damascus residents in October after the city was destroyed by Hurricane Helen,” the vice president's press secretary told Fox News Digital. “He promised to come back, and now he's fulfilling that promise. The first week of this administration has made it clear that President Trump and Vice President Vance will keep their word.”
Vance's visit comes days after President Donald Trump, Melania Trump and other politicians visited Asheville, Fletcher and Swannanoa, North Carolina, on Jan. 24, making it the current president's first visit to those areas. This is my second visit since September.
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Vice President-elect J.D. Vance (left) takes the oath of office as his wife, Usha Vance, looks on during the 60th presidential inauguration ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday, January 20, 2025 in Washington. (Kevin Lamarck/Pool photo via AP)
President Trump spoke in all three towns, but allowed a group of local residents who lost everything in Helen to share their personal stories while in Swannanoa. Some local residents are challenging the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster response, saying they are trying to ensure that people in need of emergency assistance get the help they need, such as housing, money, or both. They claim there is too much red tape.
“I also plan to sign an executive order to begin the process of fundamental reform. Review of FEMA“Frankly, I don't think FEMA is good,” President Trump told reporters in North Carolina on Friday morning.
FEMA extends transitional housing program for North Carolina residents evacuated by Hurricane Helen
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a visit to areas affected by Hurricane Helen in Swannanoa, North Carolina, on January 24, 2025. (Mandel Gann/AFP via Getty Images)
President Trump also promised that the government would step in to help North Carolina quickly repair the damage and vowed to “do a good job” for the state.
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“We're going to fix it, and we're going to fix it as quickly as possible,” Trump said. “It's a huge loss. FEMA really let us down. Let the country down. And I don't know if it's Biden's fault or whose fault it is, but we're going to take over. We're going to do it. ”Please do a good job. ”
FOX News' Emma Colton contributed to this report.
