Next week’s trip was announced on the same day Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, visited the state.
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The White House said in a press release the President was updated Friday morning by DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, who is on the ground in the state, on the ongoing recovery efforts in the flood-affected regions.
President Obama will travel to Louisiana next week as the state grappled with massive flooding that has killed 13 people and displaced tens of thousands.
Amid mounting criticism in the media, the White House announced Friday afternoon that President Obama would visit flood-ravaged Louisiana next Tuesday.
Donald TrumpDonald TrumpTrump supporter says he was kicked out of a Trump rally “because I’m brown” EXCLUSIVE Bardella: “On Steve Bannon and why I’m voting for Hillary Report: “FBI, DOJ looking at Manafort in Ukraine investigation MORE opened up a Friday campaign rally in MI with a promise to help the victims of catastrophic flooding around Baton Rouge, La”. “The president says he doesn’t want to come, he is trying to get out of a golf game”, Trump said according to ABC News.
The president signed a Louisiana disaster declaration five days ago, making federal funding available for the parishes of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena and Tangipahoa.
Trump and Pence met with disaster relief volunteers, toured damaged structures, met an elderly couple who said they had to climb to the roof of their home to escape floodwaters, and joined a short briefing with emergency officials. “Donald Trump hasn’t called the governor to inform him of his visit”, a spokesman for Edwards’ office said in a statement Thursday evening. He said he welcomed Trump’s visit as long as it wasn’t intended as a “photo-op” for political gain.
Trump visited Louisiana earlier Friday.
Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton opted not to visit, saying, “T$3 he relief effort can’t afford any distractions”. “The very best way this team can help is to make sure Louisianans have the resources they need”.
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The floods, which dumped more than 2.5ft (0.76 metre) on parts of Louisiana, is being called the worst United States disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
