Kerr County, Texas, was hit by flooding last week, resulting in 68 deaths. But Donald Trump has yet to visit the disaster-afflicted region and seems to have spent Saturday enjoying some leisure time
Trump has not visited Texas yet after flash floods killed more than 60 people in Kerr County (file)(Image: Bloomberg, Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Parts of Texas were ravaged by flash floods last week – but it seems that hasn’t stopped Donald Trump enjoying some leisure time. Officials say 68 people have died after storms hit Kerr County last week, with severe flooding beginning on Friday (July 4).
This figure includes 28 children, a local sheriff has confirmed. Rescue efforts are focused on Camp Mystic – a Christian all-girls summer camp on the Guadalupe River. “One of my daughter’s friends lost her daughter at Camp Mystic,” Rick McRae from Kerrville told the BBC. “It’s very traumatising as a local or anybody else to realise how many people have been taken.”
However, Trump has yet to visit the Lone Star State – and instead chose to enjoy a favored pastime.
Taking to X on Saturday (June 5), one critic wrote: “20 Children in the United States got washed away by a horrific flash flood in Texas today.
“And what did Donald Trump do? Of course, he went to play Golf.”
Trump’s public diary confirms this. On Saturday, the president’s location was listed at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.
From 12pm onwards it reads: “The President has no public events scheduled.”
The president has yet to visit Texas in the wake of the floods, but claims he will “probably” travel to the Lone Star State later this week.
“We wanted to leave a little time,” he told reporters.
“I would have done it today, but we’d just be in their way. Probably Friday.”
Speaking to reporters in a video he reposted to Truth Social, however, Trump claimed he had “been in touch” with officials in Texas.
“We’ve been in touch with Governor Abbott [the Governor of Texas]. I am very close to Governor Abbott,” he told Fox reporters.
“And, uh, everybody in Texas. [Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem has, you know, been there and will continue to be there.
“And we’re working very close with representatives from Texas, and it’s a horrible thing that took place. Absolutely horrible.
“So we say God bless all of the people who have gone through so much and God bless… God bless the state of Texas. It’s an incredible place.”
Trump also signed a major disaster declaration on Sunday “due to damage resulting from severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding beginning on July 2.”
The declaration is meant to “ensure that our brave first responders immediately have the resources they need.”
The White House has been contacted for comment.
