President Donald Trump on Friday visited the flood-stricken communities of Central Texas, offering condolences and pledging federal support as the region continues grappling with the aftermath of devastating flash floods. Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and a delegation of federal and state lawmakers, the president toured the damage in Kerrville, where the flooding has proven most deadly.
The disaster, which struck in the early hours of July 4, has so far claimed at least 121 lives, with over 170 individuals still unaccounted for. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams, aided by drones, boats, and volunteers, comb through debris and wreckage in search of the missing. Much of the devastation centered on Kerr County, including the Camp Mystic girls’ summer retreat, where at least 27 campers and counselors died when floodwaters overtook their riverside cabins.
Following a private meeting with bereaved families, Trump addressed a roundtable of local, state, and federal officials. He spoke with visible emotion, calling the situation unlike anything he had seen before and describing the Guadalupe River as a “little narrow river that became a monster.” He recounted conversations with families who had lost children, remarking on their strength in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
The first lady also shared her condolences, promising to return to Texas in the future to support survivors. “We are grieving with you,” she said, echoing the sentiment of the many Texans still in mourning.
Senator Ted Cruz, who joined the Trumps in Kerrville, described a visit to the flood-ravaged camp earlier in the week. Holding back tears, he recounted seeing white wooden crosses marking where each young girl had died. He described watching a mother and father kneel before one of the crosses, overwhelmed with sorrow. “I just sat there crying,” he said.
President Trump praised the efforts of first responders and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), despite having previously stated his desire to reduce state reliance on the agency. He called the emergency response “incredible,” describing the flood as a one-in-500-year or even one-in-1,000-year event. “Everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances,” he said. “There’s just admiration.”
Though Trump pledged federal support and emphasized his administration’s commitment to rebuilding, he acknowledged that no amount of aid could replace the lives lost. “You can never say, ‘It’s going to be bigger, better, stronger,’” he said. “So many lives have been lost. You just can’t say that. But we’re going to make it back. And we’re going to make it good again.”
His visit to the region was preceded by a landing in San Antonio via Air Force One, followed by a helicopter ride to Kerrville. He was joined by Texas Republican Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, members of his Cabinet, and local officials. Trump noted that he had delayed visiting sooner in order not to interfere with ongoing rescue operations.
In addition to his verbal support, the president signed a disaster declaration to enable faster deployment of federal resources through FEMA, authorizing aid for immediate rescue and longer-term recovery. While he said his administration is taking “historic action” to ensure such disasters don’t recur, he did not elaborate on specific policies or prevention strategies.
The scale of the tragedy, especially the loss of so many young lives, has left deep scars in Texas communities. With search and recovery efforts still ongoing, and hundreds of families waiting for answers, the president’s visit marked a somber moment of national unity and mourning — a recognition of loss and a call to support those left behind.
