Trump Defends Response Amid Texas Flood Crisis, Calls Rescue Efforts ‘Heroism’

Trump Defends Response Amid Texas Flood Crisis, Calls Rescue Efforts ‘Heroism’

Kerrville, Texas | July 11, 2025 — President Donald Trump visited flood-stricken Kerrville, Texas, on Friday and praised local officials and first responders for their actions amid devastating floods that swept through Central Texas. His visit comes as questions mount over the federal government’s preparedness and response to the natural disaster.

Standing among first responders and law enforcement officers, Trump said, “The people here — first responders, the sheriff’s office, police — they’ve done an unbelievable job.” He commended not only emergency personnel but also the community and volunteers who mobilized quickly to assist flood victims.

“They’re talented and they’ve got a big heart,” Trump said, referring to the volunteers. “It’s amazing what you’re doing.”

Calling the situation a “terrible nightmare,” the president expressed gratitude for the unity and resilience shown by residents of Kerr County. “The people in this community have been unbelievable — what they’ve gone through, how they pulled together... it’s been incredible.”

Trump emphasized that the government is taking proactive steps to prevent future disasters of this scale, stating, “We’re taking historic action to ensure that such a nightmare never happens again.” He added that earlier in the year, his administration ordered a comprehensive review of the nation's preparedness and infrastructure.

However, Trump’s assurances come amid growing scrutiny of his administration’s handling of the disaster. Federal agencies, particularly the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are under fire for their response to the catastrophe.

Concerns Over Weather Service and FEMA

Critics have pointed to recent budget and staffing cuts at the NWS as potentially having hampered the agency’s ability to issue timely forecasts and warnings. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has called for an investigation into whether those reductions affected the NWS’s performance during the crisis.

Although the NWS has defended its actions, noting it deployed additional forecasters to Texas during the storm, questions remain. The Trump administration insists the agency was adequately staffed and responded appropriately, characterizing the flood as a “once-in-every-200-year event.”

At the same time, FEMA has come under sharp criticism for reportedly failing to answer a majority of calls from flood survivors in the days following the storm. According to internal documents cited by The New York Times, FEMA did not respond to nearly two-thirds of calls to its disaster assistance line on July 6. This lapse is being linked to the dismissal of hundreds of call center contractors whose temporary contracts expired on July 5 and were not renewed.

Though the Trump administration has recently abandoned its push to dismantle FEMA, its future remains uncertain as officials continue to face tough questions over the agency’s ability to handle large-scale emergencies. Many lawmakers and experts are calling for sweeping reforms to ensure better disaster preparedness and response.

Trump Pushes Back on Criticism

While in Kerrville, Trump was asked by Fox News about those blaming politics for the federal government's slow or inadequate response.

“It happens any time there’s anything — ‘It’s Trump’s fault,’” he said. “It’s just like a soundbite. They actually gave a lot of warnings and did a really good job.”