As Hurricane Harvey dumped foot after foot of rain on Houston over the weekend, President Donald Trump seemed to marvel at the extent of the disaster on his Twitter feed Sunday.
“HISTORIC rainfall in Houston, and all over Texas. Floods are unprecedented, and more rain coming,” Trump tweeted Sunday night. “Spirit of the people is incredible. Thanks!”
Earlier Sunday, the president tweeted: “Going to a Cabinet Meeting (tele-conference) at 11:00 A.M. on #Harvey. Even experts have said they’ve never seen one like this!”
In a third tweet, Trump exclaimed: “Wow – Now experts are calling #Harvey a once in 500 year flood!”
Some pundits questioned the tone of the president’s tweets. The disaster, which many viewed as a major test of Trump’s nascent administration, has reportedly claimed at least five lives. More than 2 feet of rain has fallen in the Houston area. That could increase to as much as 50 inches Sunday night, according to the latest National Hurricane Center projections.
The White House said Trump would visit Texas on Tuesday. He spent the weekend at Camp David, where the White House said he held two meetings with Cabinet members via teleconference about the storm response.
Here are some of Trump's tweets about Harvey:
HISTORIC rainfall in Houston, and all over Texas. Floods are unprecedented, and more rain coming. Spirit of the people is incredible.Thanks!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
Going to a Cabinet Meeting (tele-conference) at 11:00 A.M. on #Harvey. Even experts have said they've never seen one like this!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
Wow - Now experts are calling #Harvey a once in 500 year flood! We have an all out effort going, and going well!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
Many people are now saying that this is the worst storm/hurricane they have ever seen. Good news is that we have great talent on the ground.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2017
Wonderful coordination between Federal, State and Local Governments in the Great State of Texas - TEAMWORK! Record setting rainfall.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2017
Just arrived at Camp David, where I am monitoring the path and doings of Hurricane Harvey (as it strengthens to a Class 3). 125 MPH winds!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017