President Trump reflected on his Wednesday briefing at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters by thanking employees for the work they performed during last year’s deadly hurricane season.
It is customary for the president to be briefed by FEMA leading into hurricane season, and Trump remarked that the improvements the agency made in the wake of the tragedies in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico are “very impressive.”
“It’s very impressive, what’s taken place in the last, short period of time. We’ve never had a season like we had last season. And what we went through is incredible. And without you we couldn’t have done it. We know how hard you work,” he said following the meeting.
“[FEMA Administrator] Brock [Long] and [Homeland Security] Secretary [Kirstjen] Nielsen, we really appreciate it,” he continued. “We’re with our great first lady and our great vice president.”
“We had a season last year like no other, in terms of the power, the level, the hurricanes, the fires along the West Coast. We just really appreciate what you’ve been able to do. Whether it’s in Texas or in Florida, in Puerto Rico,” Trump said. “You’re going to places that really have not been hit like this. You can be very, very proud of yourselves. And I’m very proud to be with you.”
The FEMA briefing also doubled as first lady Melania Trump’s first public appearance since being hospitalized for a kidney procedure.
Trump even commented on her health while at headquarters, noting the first lady, “went through a little rough patch, but she’s doing better.”
“We’re very proud of her. She’s done a fantastic job, this first lady. The people love you. The people of our country love you,” he added.
New polling data released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University shows Trump was right, as the first lady’s approval ratings push 50 percent.
