As news broke that Donald Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, had resigned from the campaign, Trump and his running mate Mike Pence toured some of the areas damaged by recent floods in Louisiana.
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President Barack Obama has been called on by Republicans and some in Louisiana to cut short his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard to visit the city.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on August 19 where he toured a flooded area, talked to residents and posed for pictures despite Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request that politicians not do so because of limited resources.
“Instead, we hope he’ll consider volunteering or making a sizable donation to the LA [Louisiana] Flood Relief Fund to help the victims of this storm”, the statement read.
Some 40,000 homes were damaged and at least 13 people died in a deluge that dumped more than 2-1/2 feet (0.76 metre) on parts of Louisiana in what has been described as the worst USA disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The pair were planning to meet with families in the flood-hit areas, according to Fox News.
He said he welcomed Trump’s visit as long as it wasn’t intended as a “photo-op” for political gain.
In East Baton Rouge Parish, Friday, Trump’s motorcade drove through hard-hit communities, where ripped up carpet and flooring, furniture and the entire contents of homes were piled on the curb.
One woman screamed, “Thank you for coming, Mr. Trump” as the candidate was interacting with the crowd, The New York Post reported.
“Nobody understands how bad it is”, Trump told reporters, after briefly helping unload a truck of supplies while cameras captured the moment.
Among his stops was the flood-ravaged home of Jimmy and Olive Morgan in Denham Springs, where floodwaters were still being swept up and wheelbarrows carried out waterlogged computer equipment. The White House said the president’s advisers had determined, in consultation with state officials, that Tuesday was an appropriate time to visit.
“It does help”, he said, “but the thing I wonder about is it’s more time spent somewhere where he doesn’t compete electorally”. “I would just as soon he wait a week or two”.
Hillary Clinton has not visited Louisiana. A few hours into that visit, Clinton released her statement.
“The very best way this team can help is to make sure Louisianans have the resources they need”, she said.
In a clear swipe at her rival, Clinton added: “The relief effort can’t afford any distractions. I have done that”, the GOP nominee, reading from prepared text, said at a rally in Charlotte, N.C. Thursday night.
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Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic rival in the November 8 election, said on social media that she had spoken with the governor by phone on Friday, and the flooding was worse than expected.
