The Republican president has criticized former President Joe Biden for his administration's response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. As he left the White House, he told reporters that “it’s been a horrible thing the way that’s been allowed to fester” since the storm hit in September, and "we're going to get it fixed up.”

Ahead of his trip, the president threatened to withhold aid from California, which he said had mismanaged its water during firefighting efforts.

President Trump is expected to visit Los Angeles Friday for a tour areas damaged by two of the deadliest and destructive wildfires on record in California.