Trump may be ‘getting rid of FEMA,’ president says in visit to hurricane-hit North Carolina

President Trump in a briefing with hurricane-hit residents of North Carolina suggested his administration may be “getting rid of FEMA.”

“I think we’re going to recommend that FEMA go away, and we pay directly,” Trump said. “We pay a percentage to the state. But the state should fix this.”

President Trump and first lady Melania arriving at a Hurricane Helene recovery briefing in a hangar at the Asheville Regional Airport in Fletcher, North Carolina. AFP via Getty Images

President Trump suggested his administration may be “getting rid of FEMA” during the briefing. AFP via Getty Images

“FEMA has been a very big disappointment. They cost a tremendous amount of money. It’s very bureaucratic and it’s very slow,” he added before joking: “Other than that, we’re very happy with them.”

“Some residents still don’t have hot water or drinking water or anything else,” the president said earlier of the state of destruction in western North Carolina around four months since Hurricane Helene.