The American people should expect their government to do their absolute best when it comes to protecting them and assisting them through natural disasters. Unfortunately as we’ve seen over the years, this is rarely the case. So often the government at both the state and federal level has failed its citizens through either negligence or simply a lack of effort.

Recently, hurricanes hit the southern United States hard during the early fall. North Carolina in particular was greatly devastated by one of these storms. The response by the government to those in the path of the destruction of these storms was poor at best. Specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had many shortcomings in their efforts to assist those who where affected by these hurricanes.

There was even blatant immoral activity that was exposed within FEMA for how they treated certain victims of the storms. In Florida, some FEMA agents were instructed to avoid homes that displayed Trump campaign signs. Obviously, the government agency was blasted for their actions in this circumstance. It was a reminder that as an American citizen, you can’t always rely on the government to give you the assistance you need.

But President Donald Trump isn’t letting FEMA get away with it. He recently spoke out on just how useless the agency has been lately and how under proper leadership, they can actually do a lot of good. This is the type of tough leadership many Americans voted for in the 2024 elections. It’s also the type of leadership that will help inspire real change in this nation.

Trump Criticizes FEMA’s Disaster Response Under Biden Administration

In a fiery critique during an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump lashed out at FEMA’s handling of natural disasters under President Joe Biden’s administration, claiming the agency is “getting in the way of everything.” Trump suggested that states should spearhead their own disaster recovery efforts, with the federal government stepping in solely to provide financial support. The president also revealed during the interview plans to visit North Carolina today to assess hurricane recovery efforts before traveling to California to witness the devastation caused by ongoing wildfires.

“FEMA has not done their job for the last four years. You know, I had FEMA working really well. We had hurricanes in Florida. We had Alabama tornadoes,” Trump remarked. “But unless you have certain types of leadership, it’s really, it gets in the way. And FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly, because I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems.”

WATCH:

PRESIDENT TRUMP: FEMA is getting in the way of everything and the Democrats actually used FEMA not to help North Carolina. On Friday, I'm stopping in North Carolina… because those people were treated very badly. We're going to get that thing straightened out… and then I'm… pic.twitter.com/TxTPNfGKI2

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 23, 2025

Trump pointed to Oklahoma as an example, asserting that the state should take the lead in rebuilding if struck by a tornado. “I love Oklahoma, but you know what? If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it,” he explained. “And then the federal government can help them out with the money. FEMA is getting in the way of everything, and the Democrats actually use FEMA not to help North Carolina.”

FEMA has come under fire for its response to widespread flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene in September. Communities in rural North Carolina and Tennessee have accused the agency of dragging its feet in delivering relief. Allegations have also surfaced that FEMA workers intentionally bypassed neighborhoods displaying support for Trump or conservative candidates. One whistleblower informed Republican members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that FEMA skipped certain areas in North Carolina where three or more pro-Trump signs were visible. Additionally, a report from The Daily Wire alleged that a FEMA supervisor in Florida directed relief workers to “avoid homes advertising Trump.”

“The Democrats don’t care about North Carolina. What they’ve done with FEMA is so bad. FEMA is a whole ‘nother discussion, because all it does is complicate everything,” Trump explained. The criticism comes on the heels of FEMA Chief Deanne Criswell’s resignation on Monday. Former Navy SEAL Cameron Hamilton has since taken over as the agency’s acting administrator. Trump insisted that North Carolinians have suffered under Democratic leadership, stating, “We’re going to get that thing straightened out because they’re still suffering from a hurricane from months ago.”

After his visit to North Carolina, Trump is scheduled to travel to Los Angeles County, California, where wildfires have claimed the lives of more than two dozen people. The former president has accused prominent California Democrats, including Governor Gavin Newsom, of failing to adequately manage the state’s wildfire crisis. But as the president is engaged in these visits, his criticisms of FEMA and Democratic leadership signal a renewed focus on disaster management as a critical issue that needs to be fixed as soon as possible.

How would you grade FEMA’s response to the latest natural disasters that have hit the nation? Do you think Trump can lead the agency better than Biden did? As always, let us know in the comments below.