President Donald Trump toured flood-hit areas in Texas and expanded federal disaster assistance to eight more counties.

Trump travelled from Washington to Texas aboard Air Force One with several top officials and lawmakers, including Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Housing Secretary Scott Turner, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and Representative Wesley Hunt.

In Kerrville, the president received a detailed briefing alongside Governor Greg Abbott and joined a roundtable with emergency responders and local leaders. He also visited flooded neighbourhoods, met with victims' families, and praised first responders. Describing the devastation as unlike anything he had seen, Trump mourned the loss of life, particularly among children.

First Lady Melania Trump, speaking publicly at the event, honored the memory of girls lost at a summer camp and promised continued support.

The Trump administration remains committed to its broader goal of closing the Federal Emergency Management Agency and shifting disaster response responsibilities to state governments as part of its effort to reduce federal programs. However, the focus on that agenda has eased following the July 4 disaster, highlighting how major tragedies can alter political priorities.

Before travelling to Texas, Trump approved Governor Greg Abbott’s request to expand the major disaster declaration, allowing eight more counties to receive federal recovery aid.

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