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Trump remarks on FEMA aid
The gist
Trump said he'd withhold FEMA money from North Carolina if Michael Whatley lost.
The remark lands amid reports he denied aid to four Democrat-led states.
How it unfolded
- Mar 23, 2026Politico reported Trump administration statistics showed Trump rejected disaster aid for Democrat-run states at a higher rate than any other president in FEMA's 47-year history.
- Jul 29, 2026Politico reported Trump overruled officials within his own administration and denied disaster aid to four Democrat-led states: New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York.
- Sep 13, 2026US District Judge Susan Illston ruled the Trump administration's efforts to sharply reduce FEMA staffing were illegal, saying DHS "acted arbitrarily and capriciously."