Despite violent riots in Milwaukee and devastating flooding in Louisiana, President Obama remains on his two-week vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, enjoying rounds of golf with celebrities such as professional basketball player Chris Paul and comedian Larry David. The outlet noted the region’s history as one of the area’s that suffered most when Hurricane Katrina struck the Louisiana shore, slamming the president’s response to the latest deadly floods as having “evoked the precedent of the passive federal response to the state’s agony in 2005, a chapter of history no one should ever repeat”.
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Trump’s trip to Louisiana, a rare departure for the candidate whose campaign so far has consisted largely of mass rallies and television phone-ins, came a day after he made a rare expression of remorse for making comments that “may have caused personal pain”.
The White House said the president’s advisers spoke with state officials and determined that Tuesday was the right time to visit.
In announcing Mr Obama’s planned visit, the White House said the President would be “mindful of the impact that his travel has on first responders” and did not want to “interfere with ongoing recovery efforts”.
This is a developing story.
Obama will visit Louisiana next week, after the scheduled end of the vacation he has been taking in Martha’s Vineyard.
It was a rare admission for a man who has said that he prefers “not to regret anything” and it underscored the dire situation Trump finds himself in. The total value of homes in flooded areas reached more than $9 billion, but “the combined coverage of all Livingston flood policies, in full force, amounts to less than $2.5 billion”. The U.S. Small Business Administration plans to open several south Louisiana locations to help businesses damaged by record flooding.
Governor Edwards, a Democrat, did not greet Trump today, but a spokesman from governor’s office warned Trump to do more than pose for a photo-op for political gain.
Hours later, he and running mate Mike Pence were touring battered Baton Rouge.
“The president could do so by finally getting to Louisiana personally, aiding the victims and telling Gov. Edwards that partisan politics has no role in disaster relief”, he added.
Aides to Obama brushed off comparisons, arguing that a presidential visit too soon after the floods would take up time and energy of local officials while they are trying to deal with an emergency.
“My heart breaks for Louisiana”, she said. Trump and Pence helped unload donations from a truck and toured some of the destruction. The former president visited a few days after his infamous flyover and returned frequently.
Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton opted not to visit, saying, “T$3 he relief effort can’t afford any distractions”.
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But Edwards indicated he would prefer Obama wait at least a week before touring the affected areas, because such a visit would require heavy security and would pull away law enforcement officers now working on the recovery effort.
