Trump Responds to Texas Floods, Suggests Political Motive Behind Disaster Response Failures

 

As Texas continues to reel from one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent memory, the death toll from the flash floods has climbed to 80. Among the most heartbreaking losses occurred at Camp Mystic, a longtime Christian girls’ retreat along the Guadalupe River. At least 27 children and counselors are confirmed dead after water levels rose a staggering 26 feet in under an hour during the Fourth of July weekend.

In a statement, the camp described the situation as “unimaginable,” asking for continued prayers as the search for the missing continues.

The catastrophic flooding was caused by an extremely rare weather event that dumped the equivalent of four months of rainfall in just a few hours. Though the National Weather Service (NWS) had issued warnings, some Texas officials argue they came too late or weren’t strong enough. Others have stood by the agency, saying the forecasts were as accurate as possible with the data available.

Meteorologist Chris Vagasky noted that while the forecasts were reliable, many residents may not have received alerts in time, highlighting what he called “a failure in the last mile” of communication. At the same time, Tom Fahy from the NWS Employees Organization revealed that the San Antonio forecast center has been operating without key leadership roles — positions that could be crucial during emergencies. Still, he insisted that capable personnel remained on duty.

Adding fuel to the controversy is the fact that earlier this year, nearly 600 positions were cut from the NWS under a government reorganization plan known as DOGE — a federal “efficiency” initiative backed by the Trump administration and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.

While some critics suggest the staff reductions left the agency unprepared, former President Donald Trump rejected those claims during an airport appearance in New Jersey. Instead, he floated the idea that the entire disaster may have been part of a “Biden setup,” though he quickly walked back the implication by adding he didn’t hold Biden personally responsible. He labeled the storm a “once-in-a-century” event and praised first responders for their efforts.

Trump also mentioned that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is on the ground in Texas and assured that federal teams are working closely with state and local agencies.

As recovery efforts continue, many Texans are demanding not only aid and action but also answers. The tragedy has reignited conversations around emergency communication systems, funding for critical agencies, and whether political decisions have had unintended consequences during times of crisis.