President Barack Obama will visit flood-stricken Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Tuesday after outcry that he didn’t end his Martha’s Vineyard vacation to visit the area.
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But Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, defended the president’s decision in a Thursday interview, citing the steep use of resources for such a high-profile visit as reason enough to wait.
The White House said Obama will travel to the state on Tuesday, a date chosen after coordinating with Louisiana officials on “an appropriate time for him to visit”. “The President is mindful of the impact that his travel has on first responders and wants to ensure that his presence does not interfere with ongoing recovery efforts”, the statement reads.
Shortly after accepting the resignation of his campaign manager Paul Manafort on Friday morning, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made an impromptu visit to tour some of the many ravaged areas of South Louisiana on Friday morning with running mate Mike Pence.
Obama has been vacationing this week in upscale Martha’s Vineyard, and has played several rounds of golf with celebrities, including Seinfeld co-creator Larry David and National Basketball Association great Alonzo Mourning.
Edwards said he was fine with Obama’s absence, adding that he is in daily contact with the White House about the situation.
Obama has declared much of the state a federal disaster, freeing up emergency resources. Red Cross officials described the flooding as the country’s worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
While in Louisiana Friday, Trump – in a blazer, khakis and a white Make America Great Again hat – was videotaped passing out supplies from a truck.
The flooding in Louisiana has left 13 people dead and displaced thousands from their homes.
NPR reports that, as of Friday, more than 86,000 people have registered for FEMA assistance. “Somebody is” playing golf “that shouldn’t be”, Trump said.
Trump also chastised President Obama for not yet visiting Louisiana, saying he should “get off the golf course and get down there”. It also came after Friday’s visit to the region by Republican nominee Donald Trump, who called for a more robust national response.
After Trump and Pence toured the flood damage, they went to Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, to meet with Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, and Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, an worldwide Christian relief organization. “My heart breaks for Louisiana”, Clinton said.
“We welcome him to (Louisiana), but not for a photo op”, said gubernatorial spokesman Richard Carbo.
The Advocate, a newspaper in Louisiana’s capital of Baton Rouge, editorialized that Obama should leave Martha’s Vineyard to visit “the most anguished state in the union” and show solidarity with suffering Americans.
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“Right now, the relief effort can’t afford any distractions”, Clinton said.
