When disaster strikes, politics often take a backseat—at least temporarily.
That’s the case with Donald Trump’s recent trip to flood-ravaged Texas.
He surveyed the wreckage of a storm that has claimed over 120 lives and left more than 170 people missing.
But behind the scenes? Tension is brewing.
Trump, who once championed the idea of gutting FEMA—the very agency now leading relief efforts—has gone quiet on those plans.
“Nobody ever saw a thing like this coming,” he told NBC, calling the flooding a “once-in-every-200-year” event.
When Irony Hits Hard
FEMA, the agency he once threatened to shutter, is now his frontline tool.
Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, praised the agency’s response but reminded Trump, “We don’t manage these disasters.
The state does.” Still, she’s leading a review to streamline FEMA—Trump’s long-held goal to trim federal agencies remains.
So, will FEMA stay or go? The administration isn’t saying.
“The president wants to ensure citizens have what they need,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt. But reforms? Those are still on the table.
In crisis, Trump is offering comfort and promises.
But whether FEMA survives his broader agenda may depend on what voters—and disasters—demand next.
