In his first domestic trip since returning to office, President Donald Trump visited Asheville, North Carolina, to address the ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, which struck the state over four months ago. Expressing dissatisfaction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response, Trump announced his intention to significantly reform the agency, even suggesting the possibility of its elimination.

Criticizing FEMA's performance, Trump stated, "FEMA has really let us down. Let the country down." He pledged a swift resolution to the lingering damage, assuring North Carolinians that his administration would "fix it, and we're going to fix it as fast as you can." He placed blame on the previous administration, questioning whether the slow response was "Biden's fault or whose fault it is," but affirmed his commitment to taking charge and ensuring effective assistance.

An aerial view shows the destruction left by Hurricane Helene in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Trump advocated for greater state-level responsibility in disaster management, believing that local authorities are better positioned to handle such crises efficiently and cost-effectively. He expressed his desire to see states "take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen," suggesting this approach would result in a "quicker response" and significant cost savings.

The president's visit comes as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports that only half of the debris removal from Hurricane Helene is complete. Thousands of North Carolina families remain displaced and are residing in hotels funded by FEMA's Transitional Housing Assistance program. Although an initial deadline for this assistance was approaching, FEMA recently extended it to May 26, providing continued support to over 3,000 eligible families.

This image, provided by Rep. Kat Cammack's office, depicts the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Florida. (Office of Congresswoman Kat Cammack)

Before departing for North Carolina, Trump reiterated his commitment to addressing the situation, stating, "It's been a horrible thing the way that's been allowed to fester, and we're going to get it fixed up." He criticized the delayed response, emphasizing that the recovery "should have been done months ago."

President Trump boards Air Force One en route to North Carolina. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

Following his visit to North Carolina, President Trump plans to travel to California to assess the damage caused by recent wildfires. He described the situation as "a bad, bad situation," highlighting the severity of the devastation.