As wildfires raged across Los Angeles, killing at least 24 people and destroying thousands of structures, some people sought to contrast emergency response to the fires to disaster response that followed deadly hurricanes that battered the southeastern U.

President Donald Trump landed in Los Angeles Friday afternoon to survey the devastation from the firestorms that swept through L.A. County. It was his first presidential visit since taking office — and a potentially contested one after his repeated threats to withhold federal aid to California.

U.S. President Donald Trump visited disaster-hit western North Carolina on Friday and was traveling later to Los Angeles, promising help while stoking partisan tensions with Democratic rivals over recovery efforts.

The president cited the disasters during his inauguration speech Monday as examples of an insufficient federal response to communities in need.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is heading to hurricane-battered western North Carolina and wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles on Friday, using the first trip of his second administration to tour areas where politics has clouded the response to deadly disasters.

The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles carry a warning for western North Carolina: It could be next. Ironically, it’s a hurricane that has raised the fire risk. Hurricane Helene toppled trees over 820,000 acres of forest in western North Carolina in September. Now that debris could dry into kindling.

President Donald Trump said he's considering "getting rid of" FEMA as he hit the road for the first time since his second inauguration, visiting victims of Hurricane Helene and the California wildfires.

President Donald Trump surveyed disaster zones in California and North Carolina on Friday ... Young Kim, a Republican from Orange County, south of Los Angeles, said in a recent statement.

President Donald Trump is heading to hurricane-battered western North Carolina and ... running dry in the Los Angeles area. “I don’t think we should give California anything until they let ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is heading to hurricane-battered western North Carolina ... dry in the Los Angeles area. “I don’t think we should give California anything until ...

Donald Trump, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s response to Hurricane Helene, which struck North Carolina in September 2024, said that he would like to see states assume more responsibility in the aftermath of natural disasters, rather than the federal government.

Donald and Melania Trump are stopping in North Carolina, California and Nevada during the first second term trip. Follow along for live updates.