The White House has batted away Trump’s criticism and comparisons with Katrina, calling the government’s response to the flooding robust.
Advertisement
Previewing the trip yesterday, Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that while Obama’s plans were ‘still coming together, ‘ the president was ‘seeking to organize this visit in a way that doesn’t have any impact on the significant response and recovery efforts that are underway in Louisiana’.
Asked whether Obama’s visit was scheduled in response to Republican presidential nominee Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPence: Clinton should shut down Clinton Foundation “right now” GOP chairmen subpoena Clinton server vendors Trump delays immigration speech MORE’s visit on Friday to Baton Rouge with running mate Mike PenceMike (Michael) Richard PencePence: Clinton should shut down Clinton Foundation “right now” Roger Stone: Trump should release tax returns “immediately” Obama aide deflects criticism ahead of Louisiana trip MORE, Earnest said, “Of course not”.
Back at the White House, Obama administration officials insisted that President Barack Obama was focused on the Louisiana flood victims while on vacation..
The Louisiana floods were caused by one of the most severe US storms in recent years, damaging an estimated 40,000 homes and leaving tens of thousands of people homeless.
The Baton Rouge visit Tuesday is a reminder of the political dangers and opportunities that natural disasters can pose.
The flooding has killed at least 13 people and more than 100,000 people have registered for federal assistance in southeastern Louisiana as of this morning, according to the Louisiana governor’s office.
A newspaper in Louisiana called on Obama last week to travel to the state’s flood-damaged regions and cut short his two-week vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, where played his 300th round of golf as president and a round with “Seinfeld” co-creator Larry David.
Any criticism of the president, Earnest suggested was merely “optics” and not about the actual response from the federal government.
“It’s Louisiana officials, both Democrats and Republicans, who are saying that the federal response to these floods in Baton Rouge have been much more effective than the federal response to hurricane Katrina in 2005”, Earnest told reporters Monday. Donald Trump made a stop in Louisiana last week. In his book, Decision Points, Bush said he regretted not visiting New Orleans earlier.
On Tuesday, Obama will travel to Louisiana to survey the damage, speak with officials and “offer comfort to citizens whose lives been thrown into chaos”, Earnest said.
Advertisement
‘We need every person to focus on continuing to rescue people, ‘ Nungesserhad said on MSNBC.
