President Donald Trump will visit Texas on Tuesday, even as Hurricane Harvey continues to pound away at the beleaguered state.
This news somewhat contrasts one of the many tweets Trump issued about the natural disaster on Sunday.
I will be going to Texas as soon as that trip can be made without causing disruption. The focus must be life and safety.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
In that same flurry of tweets, Trump also engaged in his characteristic hyperbole about the state of affairs in Texas.
Wow – Now experts are calling #Harvey a once in 500 year flood! We have an all out effort going, and going well!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
The impending trip to Texas, as reported by The New York Times, is tentative, given that the tempestuous weather conditions in the southeastern part of that state add a high level of risk and uncertainty to the logistics of any presidential visit. It is possible that Trump will avoid those issues by visiting a part of the state which is less severely impacted.
At the same time, both Trump and other Republican officials in his administration seem determined to avoid repeating the mistakes of the last president from their party to face a natural disaster of this magnitude. President George W. Bush’s popularity as president took a major hit due to what was widely perceived as a poor response to Hurricane Katrina, and Trump has been sending out tweets that showcase what his administration is trying to depict as an active, competent and effective response.
Received a #HurricaneHarvey briefing this morning from Acting @DHSgov Secretary Elaine Duke, @FEMA_Brock, @TomBossert45 and COS John Kelly. pic.twitter.com/cnkRZd6D6Z
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
I encourage everyone in the path of #HurricaneHarvey to heed the advice & orders of their local and state officials. https://t.co/N6uEWCZUrv
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
Just arrived at Camp David where I am closely watching the path and doings of Hurricane Harvey, as it strengthens to a Category 3. BE SAFE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
Storm turned Hurricane is getting much bigger and more powerful than projected. Federal Government is on site and ready to respond. Be safe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
At the request of the Governor of Texas, I have signed the Disaster Proclamation, which unleashes the full force of government help!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2017
.@ChuckGrassley – got your message loud and clear. We have fantastic people on the ground, got there long before #Harvey. So far, so good!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2017
Closely monitoring #HurricaneHarvey from Camp David. We are leaving nothing to chance. City, State and Federal Govs. working great together!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2017
Great coordination between agencies at all levels of government. Continuing rains and flash floods are being dealt with. Thousands rescued.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
Certainly the Trump administration is aware of the severity of the storm. As Trump’s FEMA administrator Brock Long told CNN, “This disaster’s going to be a landmark event. This is a storm that the United States has not seen yet.”
“I know for a fact this is the worst flood Houston has ever experienced,” Weather Service meteorologist Patrick Blood told the Houston Chronicle.
Of course, what will ultimately determine whether Trump’s actions during Hurricane Harvey are politically effective is if he can reach the standard established by President Lyndon Johnson during Hurricane Betsy in 1965. As he told Buford Ellington, his director of emergency planning, that hurricane’s victims in Louisiana “feel like nobody cares about them, and they voted against us, and they feel like they’re kind of on the outside. I feel about them like a 17-year-old girl; I want them to know they’re loved.”
