As wildfires raged across Los Angeles, killing at least 24 people and destroying thousands of structures, some people sought to contrast emergency response to the fires to disaster response that followed deadly hurricanes that battered the southeastern U.

U.S. President Donald Trump visited disaster-hit western North Carolina on Friday and was traveling later to Los Angeles, promising help while stoking partisan tensions with Democratic rivals over recovery efforts.

The president cited the disasters during his inauguration speech Monday as examples of an insufficient federal response to communities in need.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is heading to hurricane-battered western North Carolina and wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles on Friday, using the first trip of his second administration to tour areas where politics has clouded the response to deadly disasters.

In North Carolina, the president pledged “the support that you need to quickly recover and rebuild” after a hurricane. His message to fire-ravaged California had a different tone.

The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles carry a warning for western North Carolina: It could be next. Ironically, it’s a hurricane that has raised the fire risk. Hurricane Helene toppled trees over 820,000 acres of forest in western North Carolina in September. Now that debris could dry into kindling.

President Donald Trump said he's considering "getting rid of" FEMA as he hit the road for the first time since his second inauguration, visiting victims of Hurricane Helene and the California wildfires.

U.S. President Donald Trump headed to disaster-hit western North Carolina and Los Angeles on Friday in a trip that could inflame partisan tensions over recovery efforts. Trump's first trip since recla

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is heading to hurricane-battered western North Carolina ... dry in the Los Angeles area. “I don’t think we should give California anything until ...

Donald Trump, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s response to Hurricane Helene, which struck North Carolina in September 2024, said that he would like to see states assume more responsibility in the aftermath of natural disasters, rather than the federal government.

Donald and Melania Trump are stopping in North Carolina, California and Nevada during the first second term trip. Follow along for live updates.

The president raised the possibility of withholding aid to California unless the state changes its water policy.