(New Jersey) [US], July 7 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Sunday described the devastating floods in Texas as a “100-year catastrophe,” pledging continued federal support and announcing plans to visit the state on Friday. Speaking to reporters at Morristown Municipal Airport, Trump said his administration was coordinating closely with Texas officials to manage the crisis.
“Everybody in Texas, we’ll continue to be there, and we’re working very closely, representing us from Texas,” Trump said. “It’s a horrible thing at this place, absolutely horrible. So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless the state of Texas.”
He refrained from elaborating on federal disaster assistance but said, “FEMA is something we can talk about later, but right now they’re busy working, so we’ll leave it at that.”
On the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Trump expressed confidence that a deal for the release of hostages held by Hamas could be finalized within the week. “I think we’re close to a deal on Gaza. Could have it this week. I think there’s a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the week pertaining to quite a few of the hostages,” he said.
The President also commented on his planned meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, DC, calling it an opportunity to advance peace initiatives and a “permanent deal with Iran,” adding that Iran would need to “give up all of the things that you know so well.”
On trade, Trump announced that letters related to trade agreements would start going out Monday, with the aim of completing most deals or notifications by July 9. Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, standing alongside Trump, added that tariffs would go into effect on August 1.
Addressing rumors about Elon Musk starting a third political party, Trump dismissed the idea as “ridiculous,” saying, “We have tremendous success with the Republican Party. Third parties should never work. He can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
He also weighed in on the DC City Council’s stadium plan for the Washington Commanders, saying he might help broker a deal but personally preferred the team’s old name. “You want me to make a controversial statement? I wouldn’t have changed the name. It doesn’t have the same ring to me,” he said.
Asked about his recent calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump called his discussion with Zelensky “a good call” but described his talk with Putin as disappointing, adding, “He’s being hit very hard, as I said he would.”
Regarding the timing of his Texas trip, Trump said visiting sooner would have been disruptive to emergency workers. “Probably on Friday. We wanted to leave a little time. I would have done it today, but we’d just be in their way,” he said.
Calling the flooding “a 100-year catastrophe,” Trump emphasized the scale of the disaster, saying, “It’s just so horrible for all.” (ANI)
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