Trump praises first responder and FEMA response to Texas floods: 'I think this has been heroism'

President Donald Trump on Friday heaped praise on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and first responders who helped during and after the massive flooding in Texas, while touring the region to meet families who lost loved ones.

The major flooding began last week and killed at least 120 people across six counties. Another 160 people remain missing as of Friday, according to state officials. The highest number of casualties occurred in Kerr County.

Trump admonished FEMA under the Biden administration, but stated that the federal agency has been turned around now that he is in power. The agency was heavily criticized for its response to a hurricane in North Carolina last year, along with some of its officials instructing volunteers to avoid the homes of Trump supporters during hurricane relief.

“FEMA has been really headed by some very good people,” Trump said during a roundtable with local officials. “We have some good people running FEMA. It’s about time. They failed us in North Carolina but when we got in on January 20, they fixed it up in no time.”

The president also praised first responders, clarifying that he felt everyone did their best when responding to the recent floods, despite criticism that officials failed to notify people of the dangers in time.

“Everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances,” Trump told a reporter who asked about the lack of warning during the early hours of the flood. “Only a bad person would ask a question like that. I think this has been heroism.”

Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy, who represents Kerr County in the House, has also slammed news outlets who attempted to sow division over the tragedy.

“When you see 26 feet of water rising a foot a minute, don’t go around pointing fingers,” Roy said.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.