President Donald Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, departs to visit disaster-stricken areas in California affected by wildfires.

President Donald Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, departs to visit disaster-stricken areas in California affected by wildfires.

U.S. President Donald Trump is heading to Asheville, North Carolina, and Los Angeles, California, on his first trip of his second term. Before arriving in Asheville, Trump told reporters that the response to Hurricane Helene was marked by "horrible mismanagement" and that the damage had been "allowed to fester." He added, "We’ll fix this quickly. It should have been done months ago."

Additionally, Trump will visit areas severely impacted by the ongoing wildfires in California. He reiterated his claims that local authorities “failed to ensure proper water flow.”

However, state and local officials have clarified that water supply issues during the wildfires were primarily due to unprecedented demand, which left many hydrants dry.

Before leaving the White House, Trump spoke to reporters, saying, "I think we’re about to undertake a very important trip."

First Lady Melania Trump accompanied him and was seen with Trump on the South Lawn of the White House, where he spoke with reporters. The President and the First Lady then boarded Marine One to begin their trip.

Focus on Monitoring Helene's Impact and Wildfire Damage

This trip is being given particular importance as the Trump administration has previously faced heavy criticism over its handling of natural disasters. The visit is seen as an effort to oversee the rebuilding of affected areas and to improve coordination with local authorities.