Trump Praises ‘American Spirit’ During Visit to Hurricane Helene-Ravaged North Carolina

Former President Donald Trump visited parts of western North Carolina on Monday, where he praised the community’s resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The catastrophic storm, which has claimed over 230 lives across the Southeast including nearly 100 in North Carolina left a trail of destruction with widespread flooding and mudslides. Trump’s visit to Swannanoa, a hard-hit community, brought national attention to the region's ongoing recovery efforts.

“What happened to this neighborhood, and the communities all across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, was an act of absolute devastation,” Trump said during his remarks. “All of America shares your sorrow and your grief over the past few weeks. This region has seen extraordinary hardship, but in the midst of such terrible tragedy, we have also seen the extraordinary love that binds us together as Americans.”

Trump lauded the heroic actions of local residents and first responders, many of whom have been working tirelessly to assist those impacted by the storm. One such hero was 51-year-old firefighter Tony Ray Garrison, who tragically lost his life while trying to rescue others during a mudslide in Fairview, North Carolina. Trump honored Garrison’s sacrifice and acknowledged the feelings of abandonment many felt in the storm's aftermath.

“In the wake of this horrible storm, many Americans in this region felt helpless, and abandoned, and left behind by their government. And yet, in North Carolina’s hour of desperation, the American people answered the call, much more so than your federal government, unfortunately,” Trump said, drawing applause from the crowd.

One local hero, former Army Green Beret Adam Smith, used his helicopter to rescue those stranded in remote areas. He expressed gratitude to Trump for visiting, saying that it would help keep attention on western North Carolina’s recovery. “To have you here, to have this conversation on a national level, will keep western North Carolina on the map, and not leave the communities holding the bag on the back end of this,” Smith said.

Local business owners like Brian Burpeau, whose Swannanoa auto shop was completely flooded, echoed Smith’s sentiment. “We’ve lost bridges, we’ve lost businesses, we lost homes, we’ve lost people,” Burpeau said. “The devastation here is just not anything I would have ever imagined.”

Trump, accompanied by Senator Ted Budd, promised continued support to help rebuild the region, noting the overwhelming need for long-term aid. The former president has already helped raise $8 million for hurricane relief, with $7 million already distributed to affected communities. Budd emphasized the scale of the challenge ahead, stating that it would take years to fully recover from Helene’s damage.

Trump’s visit, filled with gratitude and promises of support, served as a reminder that in times of disaster, the American spirit and the generosity of local communities remain the nation’s greatest strength.

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