Trump tours catastrophic flood damage in central Texas, defends state and federal response

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• Amna Nawaz:

  Welcome to the "News Hour."

  President Trump and the first lady visited Central Texas today, surveying the catastrophic damage and offering comfort to families who lost loved ones in last week's flash floods. More than 120 people were killed in the disaster. At least 160 are still missing. The president praised the response of rescue teams and the U.S. Coast Guard and defended the state and federal response.

  President Trump stepping off of Air Force One in Texas today and on to ground that was submerged in deadly floodwater just days ago. Before a pile of debris, the president met with authorities and shook hands with rescue workers.

  Later, Trump spoke about the floods at a roundtable with officials.

  Donald Trump, President of the United States: The first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood. Nobody has any idea how and why a thing like this could happen.

• Amna Nawaz:

  First lady Melania Trump also expressed her condolences after meeting with victims' families.

• Melania Trump, First Lady:

  Deepest sympathy from all of us, to the community, to everybody who lost a loved one. We are grieving with you. Our nation is grieving with you.

• Amna Nawaz:

  But when the president was asked about concerns that flood warnings weren't issued in time, he attacked the reporter who asked the question.

• Donald Trump:

  Only a bad person would ask a question like that, to be honest with you. I don't know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that.

• Amna Nawaz:

  The president's visit was preceded by news reports suggesting that he may be moving away from his pledge to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and hand control to the states. The president didn't weigh in on the agency's future during his visit, but he praised its response this week.

• Donald Trump:

  FEMA has deployed multiple emergency response units, and FEMA has been really headed by some very good people. We have some good people running FEMA. It's about time, right?

• Amna Nawaz:

  In the meantime, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing scrutiny amid reports that her new guidelines aimed at cutting costs at FEMA slowed the agency's response to the floods. Every contract and grant over $100,000 now requires Noem's personal sign-off before funds can be released.

  CNN's report cites sources inside the agency that say Noem didn't authorize FEMA's deployment of urban search-and-rescue teams until Monday, more than 72 hours after the flooding began. Noem disputes the report, saying it's — quote — "fake news and absolutely trash."

• Donald Trump:

  Thank you.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Before the president departed, he promised a speed aid to the region in the days ahead, as a community mourns those they lost and continues to search for the missing.

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