MEMO: Trump’s Politicization of Disaster Aid Hangs Over First Presidential Trip

TO: Interested Parties

FROM: Lori Lodes, Executive Director, Climate Power

DATE: January 23, 2025

RE: Trump’s Politicization of Disaster Aid Hangs Over First Presidential Trip

As President Trump prepares to tour the damage from climate catastrophes in Western North Carolina and Southern California on Friday, his long record of playing politics with disaster relief – and his ongoing weaponization of these tragedies – casts a dark shadow.

In his first term, Trump repeatedly withheld urgent federal aid from communities facing extreme weather disasters –– including relief for deadly hurricanes in North Carolina and wildfires in California, releasing the latter only after senior aides convinced him that many of those suffering voted for him.

And Trump is only ratcheting up his disaster exploitation. He used his inaugural address to smear the public servants and first responders on the frontlines and has openly said he intends to leverage the devastation in Los Angeles for partisan gain, holding relief funding hostage to advance his unpopular political agenda.

Trump’s Record of Disaster Politicking in North Carolina:

• In 2017, the Trump administration denied 99% of disaster relief funding requested by Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) associated with Hurricane Matthew, which had killed 26 North Carolinians and ravaged 100,000 homes and businesses across the state. 

• In 2019 – just days before Hurricane Dorian was set to crash into North Carolina – the Trump administration diverted $155 million from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to pay for temporary hearing locations for asylum-seekers. Hurricane Dorian caused $2 billion in damages and killed 10 people. 

• In 2024, as North Carolina reeled from Hurricane Helene, Trump repeatedly lied about the facts on the ground to boost his campaign; the flood of misinformation hampered efforts to get emergency aid to North Carolinians, even leading to violent threats against relief workers. Hurricane Helene was the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Maria and killed 104 North Carolinians. 

Trump’s Record of Disaster Politicking in California:

• In 2018, amid the deadliest and costliest wildfires in the state, Trump repeatedly blamed California leaders for the tragedy as he threatened to cut off federal aid. He withheld disaster relief funding due to the state’s political leanings, relenting only after being shown voter maps demonstrating that many of his supporters lived in affected areas. The 2018 wildfires cost $24 billion in California alone. 

• In 2020, as California again faced historic wildfires, Trump initially denied the state’s emergency declaration request –– and only 5% of applicants received federal aid from the last of these disasters, the lowest rate on record. With over 4.1 million acres burned, California more than doubled its previous annual record. The wildfires killed 31 Californians and destroyed or damaged 10,500 structures.  

• Now, as Los Angeles burns, Trump is rehashing false attacks against political rival Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and plotting to exploit the tragedy to pass his entire political agenda, telling right-wing radio host Dan Bongino that “when Los Angeles is included [in reconciliation], we get everything we want.” So far, the wildfires have burned over 40,000 acres, killed 28 people, and destroyed over 15,700 structures. 

The Main Takeaway: Donald Trump is now president, and families who have lost everything cannot afford to wait while political debates delay life-saving resources. Americans across the country – from North Carolina to California – need leadership who will set aside politics and provide aid in times of disaster and crisis.