Trump Criticized for Not Helping Enough in Baton Rouge
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump took a timeout from campaigning to visit flood victims in Baton Rouge, La.
His campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, told reporters that the visit was to “help people on the ground” with “no press allowed.” She said the move was nonpolitical and would show Trump’s more “presidential” side.
However, Trump did take a moment at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church to slam President Obama for not showing up and offering assistance.
“The president said he doesn’t want to go, he’s trying to get out of a golf game,” Trump said.
Evangelist Tony Perkins, whose own home was flooded, joked that the reason was that Obama was trying to stay “under par while we’re underwater.”
“He’ll never be under par,” Trump quipped back.
Some media outlets, however, criticized the GOP nominee for not doing enough to help. They highlighted a moment caught on camera in which the real estate mogul was seen unloading toys for flood victims.
Tommy Christopher of Mediaite sarcastically put “helping out” in quotes, saying that Trump assisted people “by unloading a truckload of toys for 49 seconds.”
Others echoed that sentiment on Twitter.
Guess How Much Time Donald Trump Spent 'Helping Out' Louisiana Flood Victims
The answer 49 secondshttps://t.co/paHAJN3PX0
— LA-Librul (@LA_LIBRUL) August 19, 2016
No, Trump, 49 seconds of touching boxes in La. does not look presidential https://t.co/YB96Pl3gYh via @TPM #yachtjacket
— JGutierrezKrueger (@jolinegkg) August 19, 2016
Trump spent the rest of his trip visiting various locations. He and his running mate, former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, traveled across flood-ravaged areas through East Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes.
Church maintenance supervisor Terry Phinney said he was happy with the candidate’s visit, telling reporters that “it was a good little boost for folks who are tired.”
Phinney was no fan of Trump before the visit. However, after he saw that the GOP nominee was genuinely concerned about the situation and seeking to educate himself on the damage, he changed his stance.
“He wanted to know percentages of homes damaged in the area, around about how many would have flood insurance,” Phinney said.
Overall, Trump was very well received by the locals, with a number of people commenting positively on his visit.
Jeff Nolan, who lost his home in the flood, met the candidate at the church and had him sign the back of his shirt.
Nolan said it meant “everything” to him that Trump came to Louisiana to see the damage and relief efforts first-hand.
“Trump is the man,” he said. “He’s the real deal.”
Pam West, who had to be rescued from her flooded home, also came to see Trump and said his visit was “awesome.”
“Our own dear president is too busy at Martha’s Vineyard to visit us,” she said.
Obama, who declined to cut short his vacation to tour Louisiana and offer support, announced after Trump’s visit that he too would travel to the area next week.
So far the flooding has killed 13 people, and more than 70,000 have registered for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (For more from the author of “Trump Criticized for Not Helping Enough in Baton Rouge” please click HERE)
Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.
