Trump offers condolences to victims of Texas flash floods, says ‘nation grieves with you'
The POTUS and First Lady visited Kerrville, the heart of the disaster zone, where they met with local leaders, emergency responders, and grieving families. The two spoke with the relatives of those who lost their lives in the flood behind closed doors.
"We just visited with incredible families that — I mean, look, they've been devastated," Trump said during a roundtable discussion.
"They lost their child, or two children. And, just hard to believe. I've never seen anything like it — a little narrow river that becomes a monster."
Echoing the statement, Melania Trump said "We are grieving with you. Our nation is grieving with you." She also pledged to return to Texas to support affected families.
Governor Greg Abbott, alongside Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, joined the presidential delegation in Kerrville. The group received a detailed briefing from rescue officials beside a fire truck and storm debris. President Trump praised the emergency response and pledged federal support for rebuilding efforts.
One of the most harrowing tragedies occurred at Camp Mystic, a summer camp near Hunt in Kerr County, where at least 27 girls and staff members lost their lives after floodwaters surged through riverside cabins. Survivors who lived through the nightmare reported waking up to find water rushing in through their windows.
Senator Cruz, who met with some of the families called the visit a haunting affair, and said "I saw a mom and dad come up to one of those crosses, drop to their knees and kiss that cross. And the mom was weeping. I've never seen anything more horrible in my life."
Despite offering a promise to rebuild, Trump acknowledged the irreplaceable loss to the families, stating "So many lives have been lost. You can't say, 'Oh, it's going to be bigger, better, stronger.' But we're going to make it back. And we're going to make it good again."
Trump and his delegation arrived in San Antonio aboard Air Force One before being flown by helicopter to Kerrville.
Speaking before departure from Washington, he called the flooding 'a horrible thing,' adding, 'Nobody can even believe it — that much water, that fast.'
Rescue efforts continue across the region with drones, boats and volunteers combing debris in hopes of bringing closure to families still searching for loved ones. However, Trump has so far refrained from blaming anyone for the incident, praising the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) workers in conducting rescue operations, despite his criticism of the body.
He added that Washington is "taking historic action to ensure that such a nightmare never happens again," although what that might look like is unclear.
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