In his first interview since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump expressed his desire to end federal disaster relief and shift the responsibility to states to take care of their own problems. Trump criticized FEMA for its lack of effectiveness in assisting victims of wildfires in Los Angeles and hurricanes in the eastern US. He claimed that FEMA has not done its job for the past four years and suggested that states should handle their own disaster response. Trump’s remarks come as California battles a rapid-moving wildfire in Castaic that has forced the evacuation of 50,000 people. Despite the blaze being zero per cent contained, firefighters are working tirelessly to contain it. Trump also criticized California’s water conservation efforts for drying up fire hydrants in urban areas and blamed Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom for the state’s inability to handle wildfires. Trump plans to visit Southern California and western North Carolina, both of which are struggling with wildfires and hurricane recovery, respectively. The President’s stance on California receiving federal aid has garnered criticism from Democrats and sparked a debate on the role of federal disaster relief. Trump also defended his pardons for January 6 Capitol stormers, extension of the TikTok federal ban, immigration plans, and the possibility of cutting off federal funds to “sanctuary cities” in the interview.
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Which US President proposed ending federal disaster relief for states?
