U.S. President Donald Trump visited disaster-hit western North Carolina on Friday and was traveling later to Los Angeles, promising help while stoking partisan tensions with Democratic rivals over recovery efforts.

President Donald Trump’s first trip since returning to the White House will take him to Asheville, North Carolina, and the Los Angeles area in California, communities where he has loudly criticized the federal response to recent natural disasters.

In North Carolina Friday, President Donald Trump said he would sign an executive order aimed at what he said would address problems inherent to FEMA.

Donald Trump, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s response to Hurricane Helene, which struck North Carolina in September 2024, said that he would like to see states assume more responsibility in the aftermath of natural disasters, rather than the federal government.

Donald and Melania Trump are stopping in North Carolina, California and Nevada during the first second term trip. Follow along for live updates.

President Trump wants states to have more control over disaster recovery efforts and suggested he would condition federal assistance to California after the fires on the state toughening its voter identification requirements.

In North Carolina, the president pledged “the support that you need to quickly recover and rebuild” after a hurricane. His message to fire-ravaged California had a different tone.

The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles carry a warning for western North Carolina: It could be next. Ironically, it’s a hurricane that has raised the fire risk. Hurricane Helene toppled trees over 820,000 acres of forest in western North Carolina in September. Now that debris could dry into kindling.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is heading to hurricane-battered western North Carolina and wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles on Friday, using the first trip of his second administration to tour areas where politics has clouded the response to deadly disasters.

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina - US President Donald Trump visited hurricane-hit western North Carolina on Jan 24 and was travelling later to wildfire-struck Los Angeles, promising help while stoking ...

California officials warn of flood risks from rain after Trump adds conditions to LA disaster aid: Live - Seven fires are still raging across Southern California and have consumed more than 57,000 acr

Donald Trump’s Justice Department cited an archaic statute in a legal filing Wednesday, arguing that the president’s executive order ending constitutionally guaranteed birthright citizenship should be totally kosher, since the children of Native Americans weren’t historically considered citizens, either.