President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tour the Texas flood devastation and the State Department begins laying employees.

Over 100 people have died after heavy rain pounded Kerr County, Texas, early Friday, leading to "catastrophic" flooding, the sheriff said.

The president has defended his administration's response to the fatal flooding amid criticism that federal assistance could have been provided more quickly.

President Donald Trump travels to Texas on Friday amid growing questions about how local officials responded to the devastating floods, as well as questions about the federal response -- including the fate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency -- that he has so far avoided.

Joined by First Lady Melania Trump and officials, Trump surveyed devastation and met with victims' families and emergency responders.

Just weeks ago, President Donald Trump said he wanted to begin “phasing out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this hurricane season to “wean off of FEMA” and “bring it down to the state level.

In early July 2025, a screenshot claimed to show a real Truth Social post by U.S. President Donald Trump calling on people to forget the "Epstein files" and focus on the "beautiful young girls" who died in the Texas flash floods over the Fourth of July. Per the screenshot, Trump wrote: