WASHINGTON (AP) – George W. Bush never recovered from his flyover of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation. Barack Obama got a bipartisan boost late in his re-election campaign for his handling of Superstorm Sandy.
Now, President Donald Trump confronts the political risks and potential gains that come with leading the federal government’s response to a deadly and destructive natural disaster. Hurricane Harvey, the massive storm that has dumped torrents of rain across Texas – flooding Houston and other cities – is the first major natural disaster of Trump’s presidency, and the yet-to-be-determined scope of the damage appears likely to require a years-long federal response.
The White House has sought to paint Trump as eagerly engaged in the initial response, including announcing plans for him to travel to Texas even before Harvey made landfall. The White House press office released photos of Trump, decked out in a “USA” hat, being briefed by top officials. Trump has also sent about two dozen tweets about the storm since Friday, cheering on emergency responders – “You are doing a great job – the world is watching!” he wrote – and marveling at the size of the hurricane.
“HISTORIC rainfall in Houston, and all over Texas. Floods are unprecedented, and more rain coming,” Trump wrote on Saturday.
Trump advisers are well-aware that the hurricane poses a significant test for the White House, which has largely been mired in crises of its own making during Trump’s first seven months in office, including the president’s widely-criticized response to white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. Trump, who ran a real estate business and starred in a reality show before taking office, also has no practical experience in the kinds of recovery efforts that will be required in Texas and has struggled at times to show competency in governing.