President Donald Trump didn’t hold back during his interview with Sean Hannity, ripping into FEMA’s disastrous performance under the Biden administration and calling for a major overhaul. Trump’s critique of FEMA highlights what many Americans have already seen: an agency bogged down by bureaucratic red tape and partisan politics instead of delivering swift, effective disaster relief.
“FEMA has not done their job for the last four years,” Trump said, pointing out the glaring contrast with his administration’s management of natural disasters. “We had hurricanes in Florida. We had Alabama tornadoes. FEMA worked really well because we had the right leadership.” Trump didn’t mince words, suggesting that states should handle disaster response themselves, with federal help limited to financial support. “Let Oklahoma fix it if they get hit with a tornado, and the federal government can help out with the money. FEMA is getting in the way of everything,” he said.
Trump also blasted Democrats for politicizing FEMA, accusing the agency of intentionally ignoring conservative areas in disaster-stricken states like North Carolina. A whistleblower recently testified to House Republicans that FEMA workers were directed to bypass neighborhoods with visible Trump support. “The Democrats don’t care about North Carolina,” Trump said. “What they’ve done with FEMA is so bad. All it does is complicate everything.”
FEMA’s incompetence has been on full display in North Carolina, where communities devastated by Hurricane Helene months ago are still waiting for adequate relief. Trump slammed the agency for “slow-walking” aid and leaving rural residents to fend for themselves, vowing to address the issue head-on. “We’re going to get that thing straightened out because they’re still suffering from a hurricane from months ago,” Trump said.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: FEMA is getting in the way of everything and the Democrats actually used FEMA not to help North Carolina. On Friday, I'm stopping in North Carolina… because those people were treated very badly. We're going to get that thing straightened out… and then I'm… pic.twitter.com/TxTPNfGKI2
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 23, 2025
Adding fuel to the fire, FEMA chief Deanne Criswell abruptly resigned on Monday, leaving former Navy SEAL Cameron Hamilton as acting administrator. Trump’s comments suggest FEMA will face serious scrutiny and likely reforms under his leadership.
From North Carolina, Trump plans to travel to California, where wildfires fueled by torrential winds have left more than two dozen dead and countless others displaced. Trump didn’t miss the opportunity to call out California’s Democrat leadership, including Governor Gavin Newsom, for their repeated failure to manage the state’s forests and prevent devastating fires.
Trump’s critique underscores a broader truth: Democrats have proven time and again that they prioritize partisan games over effective governance. FEMA’s failures under Biden’s watch aren’t just embarrassing—they’re a clear example of how the left’s obsession with politics cripples America’s ability to solve real problems. Trump’s plan to empower states while holding FEMA accountable is the kind of common-sense leadership that Americans deserve.