The Republican candidate for the USA presidential election Donald Trump on Friday visited Louisiana, devastated by floods last weekend, despite warning from the state governor to politicians to not go to the affected areas by the flood.
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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 USA storm since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. “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”, Mr Earnest said.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, center, and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, listens to flood victims Jimmy and Olive Gordan during a tour of their flood damaged home in Denham Springs, La., Friday, Aug. 19, 2016.
The president has been vacationing with his family in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and will complete his scheduled stay there through August 21 before traveling south.
“Since last weekend’s historic storms, the president has received regular updates on the situation in Louisiana”, Jennifer Friedman, a White House spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. I would just as soon have those people engaged in the response rather than trying to secure the president.
The prominent Christian conservative says he wants Trump to “let the country know” about the extent of the damage. NOLA.com also reports that “Hillary Clinton has called Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards to discuss the state’s devastating flooding and says the state’s relief effort can’t afford any distractions”.
“We welcome him to (Louisiana), but not for a photo op”, said gubernatorial spokesman Richard Carbo.
Trump, in a statement, praised Manafort’s work on the campaign and called him a “true professional”. Homeowners already are approved for $30 million in federal aid, Richard Carbo, the governor’s communications chief, said on Twitter on Saturday.
Although Louisiana’s governor – a Democrat – had reportedly dismissed Donald Trump’s visit Friday to the flood-stricken Pelican State as a “photo op”, he’s singing a different tune now.
The analysis found that as many as 110,000 homes worth $US20.7 billion – most without flood insurance – were likely damaged in about half of the flooded parishes.
Some Republicans had criticized the president for playing golf instead of interrupting his vacation to go to Louisiana. “My heart breaks for Louisiana”, Clinton said.
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The newspaper did give credit to the president for quickly responding when the state requested a federal disaster designation for much of its southern areas.
