Part 4/5:
Ahead of the trip, Trump has reiterated some of his previous statements, suggesting that state governments should play a more prominent role in disaster response, relegating the federal government to a supportive funding role. North Carolina emerges as an essential battleground state, one where Trump garnered considerable support in the last election. This visit, compared to an upcoming trip to California, appears to be an effort to reassess storm damage and reflect on how the federal response could improve.