Trump heads to disaster zones amid emergency funding row

US President Donald Trump made his first trip Friday since returning to power, heading to fire-scorched California and hurricane-hit North Carolina as a row blazed over disaster funding.

The visit came as the White House said that deportation flights on military aircraft had begun, launching Trump's promised operation to expel "millions" of undocumented migrants.

On his fifth day of his whirlwind return to office, Republican Trump headed for Los Angeles amid continuing attacks on its Democratic leaders over their handling of devastating wildfires.

U.S. President Donald Trump greets supporters, as he arrives to assess recovery efforts and tour areas devastated by Hurricane Helene, at Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville, North Carolina, U.S., January 24, 2025.Reuters

Leaving the White House with First Lady Melania Trump, he repeated his false claims that rain-starved California could solve its water problems by simply opening a valve in the north of the state.

Trump told reporters he was going to "take a look at a fire that could have been put out if they let the water flow, but they didn't let the water flow, and they still haven't for whatever reason."

He suggested yanking federal disaster support for America's second largest city -- a liberal bastion -- after the fires that have killed some two dozen people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Trump has also slung insults at California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom -- branding him an "idiot" -- and baselessly claimed that California authorities diverted water supplies to save a kind of small fish called a smelt.

Officials say Trump will meet firefighters and those affected by the blazes.

'Get it fixed'

Trump also sought to score political points on North Carolina, accusing Democratic predecessor Joe Biden of failing to help it recover from floods caused by Hurricane Helene last year that killed more than 100 people in the state.

He said the situation there was a "horrible thing the way that's been allowed to fester, and we're going to get it fixed up."

North Carolina resident and Republican supporter Christy Edwards said that "Trump can change everything."

People were still living in camper vans with their families following the disaster, said the 55-year-old retired teacher living an hour away from the hard-hit city of Asheville.