President Barack Obama is planning to visit Baton Rouge Tuesday (Aug. 23) to get a first-hand look at the catastrophic flooding across a large part of Louisiana.
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On the same day Donald Trump was touring areas of Louisiana affected by record flooding, the White House announced President Obama will be heading to Louisiana, too.
The President said he’s 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.
Some 40,000 homes were damaged and at least 13 people died in Louisiana after a deluge of more than 2-1/2 feet (0.76 meters) in what has been described as the worst US storm since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Edwards’ spokesperson was silent on President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s failure to visit the state in the wake of the flooding crisis.
“Instead, we hope he’ll consider volunteering or making a sizable donation to the LA Relief Fund to help the victims of this storm”, a statement from Edwards’ office read.
The deluge that dumped more than 2-1/2 feet (0.76 meter) on parts of Louisiana has been described as the worst USA disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Trump’s vice presidential running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, joined him in Baton Rouge, the capital city of a state that is typically a Republican stronghold in presidential elections.
“Last week, as torrential rains brought death, destruction and misery to Louisiana, the president continued his vacation at Martha’s Vineyard, a playground for the posh and well-connected”, the editorial said.
“Donald Trump hasn’t called the governor to inform him of his visit”, Edwards’ spokesman said. “Now I’m asking you to show that same support to the victims in Louisiana, so that we can begin to rebuild together”, she added.
In an uncharacteristic move at a rally in North Carolina on Thursday night, Trump said that he regrets some of the caustic comments he’s made in “the heat of debate”.
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.
“They need a lot of help”, Trump told reporters.
“You can get rid of Manafort, but that doesn’t end the odd bromance Trump has with Putin”, campaign manager Robby Mook said in a statement. Trump’s operation on Friday released its first general election TV commercial, one of two set to run in battleground states over the next 10 days.
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Trump also made a last-minute scheduling change, scrapping a planned event in NY on Friday in order to travel to Baton Rouge.
