Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ office said Trump had not called to discuss plans for his visit, but that the NY businessman was welcome to volunteer or make a sizable donation towards helping victims. Trump signed hats and shook hands, but turned down a plate of jambalaya. “We’re glad you’re not playing golf”, she said. Perkins pointed out that Obama, in contrast to Trump, was not present. He says almost 40,000 homes have been damaged, and their biggest focus right now is making sure every has access to food and shelter.
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“Let’s be clear: Donald Trump is taking his reckless and risky denial of climate science to the heart of a crisis fueled in part by climate change”, Sierra Club Political Director Khalid Pitts said in a statement.
“I’m hoping a lot of people who were going to vote for Hillary [Clinton] will see he came and vote for him”, she said of Trump. “It’s going to be so handsome”. A crowd of supporters near a local Baptist church where volunteers have gathered to feed flood victims cheered the pair. Obama has been criticized for continuing his vacation on Martha’s Vineyard as Louisiana suffered its worst disaster since Hurricane Katrina. He’s now set to arrive in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, August 23rd. Cash-strapped Louisiana has to come up with $800,000 a day just to cover expenses for the National Guard.
“Thousands of people in Louisiana have lost everything they own and need our help now”, Brad Kieserman, the Red Cross’ vice president of disaster services operations and logistics, told Reuters. Trump’s decision to tap Stephen Bannon, a combative conservative media executive, as his new campaign chief suggested to some that he might continue the divisive rhetoric that has angered minorities and alienated large swaths of the general election electorate. Some said it was a lack of journalistic resources available considering other competing news events like the Olympics and the presidential campaign.
Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence visit Louisiana on Friday.
“It is good Trump and Pence are going to Louisiana to help fellow Americans who are in pain”, former House speaker Newt Gingrich tweeted.
“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.
After Trump’s visit, the White House press office released a statement to reporters announcing that Obama would visit the state on the following Tuesday.
Aides to Obama brushed off comparisons, arguing that a presidential visit too soon after the floods would take up the time and energy of local officials while they were still in rescue mode.
For several days after the flooding began, President Obama hadn’t made a public statement about the flooding or planned a visit.
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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.
