North Carolina locals who survived Hurricane Helene in September but suffered massive losses from the storm share their thoughts on President Donald Trump's visit.

Donald and Melania Trump are stopping in North Carolina, California and Nevada during the first second term trip. Follow along for live updates.

( NewsNation) — President Donald Trump kicked off his first cross-country tour of his second term Friday, visiting disaster areas in North Carolina and California before heading to Nevada on Saturday for a rally.

President Donald Trump toured parts of North Carolina that are slowly recovering from devastating floods caused by Hurricane Helene.

FLETCHER, N.C. (WLOS) — Community members gathered in Fletcher, N.C., for the annual Repticon on Jan. 25. Dozens of species of snakes, geckos, and other reptiles were welcomed at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, where visitors could learn about and meet the reptiles and purchase exotic animal products.

President Donald Trump on Friday met with local officials in western North Carolina towns still recovering from Hurricane Helene, accusing the Biden administration of not doing enough to get aid where it’s needed, vowing to speed up recovery efforts and threatening to shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency altogether.

President Donald Trump said he was considering “getting rid of FEMA” as he visited hurricane-battered North Carolina on Friday during the first trip of his second term.

President Donald Trump proposed eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a Friday visit to Helene-ravaged Western North Carolina.

President Trump is taking the first trip of his term on Friday to North Carolina and California, visiting communities grappling with recovery from natural disasters.

FLETCHER, N.C. (AP) — Trump says he’s considering ‘getting rid of FEMA’ as he visits hurricane-damaged North Carolina. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

When Rachel Baker and her husband Albert made the decision to move to Western North Carolina in 2020, it was truly a leap of faith.

President Trump is taking the first trip of his term on Friday to North Carolina and California, visiting communities grappling with recovery from natural disasters.