President Donald Trump's first trip since being sworn into office for a second time will include a stop in Hurricane Helene-damaged western North Carolina.
Trump told reporters Tuesday that he would visit western North Carolina, wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles and Nevada on Friday. A person directly familiar with Trump's plans confirmed the Friday visit to WRAL on Tuesday morning.
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"I'm going to North Carolina which has abandoned by the Democrats," Trump said Tuesday. "I'm going to North Carolina, very importantly, first."
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, signed five executive orders related to Helene recovery on his first day in office. Stein spent Monday in Asheville.
Parts of western North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Helene in late September, killing more with 100 people in North Carolina and leaving thousands without shelter. The storm did more than $50 billion in damage.
Trump mentioned the area and the more recent wildfires in southern California during his inaugural address Monday. He is expected to visit California as well Friday.
"Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina being treated so badly and other states who are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago or more recently, Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense," Trump said during the inaugural address.
FEMA recently announced that residents and families receiving hotel lodging while looking for alternative housing will be allowed to stay in hotels until May 25. The move came after dozens were kicked out of hotels despite FEMA extending a previous deadline.
Trump won North Carolina for a third time in 2024. He visited Swannanoa to view hurricane damage on Oct. 21 and made at least 14 trips to the state in 2024.
In December, then-Vice President-elect JD Vance visited Fairview, saying that those affected by the storm hadn't been forgotten.
"When this administration changes hands in 45 days, we're going to do everything wthat we can to help people rebuild, to get them back on thier feet, to bring some commerce back to this area, but, most importantly, to allow poeple to live in their homes," Vance said, according to The Associated Press.