THE Donald Trump visited affected areas in yesterday Friday California and in north carolina, using his first domestic trip since being sworn in for a second term as US president to turn federal disaster relief into a policy issue.

The Republican billionaire chose to travel first to North Carolina, a state where his party governs. I was hit by a cyclone in October, before then going to Democratic-controlled California, with Los Angeles still he counts his dead in the wreckage of devastating fires of the last two weeks.

In North Carolina, Mr. Trump said he would “reform from the ground up”if not “remove maybe” FEMA, the federal disaster management agency.

He also hinted that he would not help rebuild Los Angeles if California doesn’t cooperate.

“I want two things in Los Angeles. I want proof of the identity of the voters and the water to be released”said the US president.

The 78-year-old has argued for years that California allows undocumented immigrants to vote. He also argues that the state is mismanaging its water resources and not turning on the faucets to save Los Angeles from the flames.

Arriving in California, Mr. Trump spoke with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. “We want to solve the problem,” he assured. “The way to do it is to work with the state governor,” continue. The Californians “they’re going to need a lot of federal help. Unless you don’t need her?’

“We will need your help”recognized Mr. Newsom, stating his willingness to “cooperation to guarantee speedy recovery”.

Mr. Trump then surveyed the damage from the wildfires, which have left 30 dead in suburban Los Angeles, according to the latest official count. He also met with victims.

The Republican president has for years made California an example for the US to avoid, denouncing its social policies, which he finds too left-wing for his tastes, and its commitment to the energy transition.

California is also a sanctuary state, refusing to carry out its administration’s orders to deport undocumented immigrants en masse. Simultaneously with his tour, the government of Mr. Trump continued the anti-immigration offensive he promised throughout his campaign.

The White House announced the arrest “538 criminal illegal immigrants” and added how “hundreds” were deported, mostly by military aircraft. “We chase the worst criminals” from the country, said Mr. Trump, without further details, in Asheville (North Carolina), his first stop.

For business “pure propaganda” spoke to the contrary through X o Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council.

By comparison, fiscal year 2024 (October to late September), under the presidency of the Democratic Joe Bidenthe Border Patrol deported 271,000 undocumented immigrantsin other words he enjoyed 742 per day, on average.

The US Pentagon confirmed that two transport planes were carrying migrants to Guatemala. In total, 79 Guatemalans were on board, the Central American country’s immigration service said. The Republican president promises to deport “millions” of people.

She didn’t go to a big annual anti-abortion rally in Washington yesterday. He was the first sitting US president to go and take part in 2020 in this gathering. Before leaving the White House, he prepared a video of his message to the participants in the mobilization.