Donald Trump has been chastised for ‘disrespectful’ statements about the Texas floods, following a prior remark that made some ‘want to throw up’.
At least 129 people have died as a result of flash floods in central Texas, and rescue workers are still searching for more than 150 more.
The floods carried away mobile homes, trucks, and vacation cabins that were being utilized by Americans celebrating Independence Day.
Officials reported one month’s worth of torrential rain poured in a matter of hours, raising the Guadalupe River to a perilous level of 26 feet.
On Friday (July 11), President Trump visited the site of the catastrophic floods, while he also sat down with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, on Fox News’ My View to discuss the tragedy.
Trump was asked to provide a message to the families of those who had lost loved ones, to which he said: “There can be nothing worse, losing a child. Maybe they should’ve had bells or something go off. But it’s pretty dangerous territory when you think of all the times they have had this problem.”
Some individuals have labeled the statement as ‘disrespectful’ online, and other comments the president has made about the Texas flood have also attracted criticism.
Speaking to reporters in Kerrville on Friday, Trump said: “Following a torrential downpour the worst that anyone has ever seen, Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in less than 45 minutes, and I even heard it went well over 30 feet.
“There is one story, where one person said it had to be 60 feet at one moment.
“This is like a giant, giant wave in the Pacific Ocean, that the best surfers in the world would be afraid to surf.”
Many social media users were perplexed by Trump’s description of the sad occurrence and expressed their confusion with the parallel.
One Twitter user simply wrote: “This makes me want to throw up.”
Another commented: “Trump’s out here describing floods like they’re a ride at an amusement park. Meanwhile, people are drowning.”
While a third mocked Trump by commenting: “I didn’t realize how terrifying it must have been until I realized that even surfers wouldn’t surf it!”
His wife, First Lady Melania Trump, was also in attendance and told the families of the victims: “My deepest sympathy to all of the parents who lost beautiful young souls.
“We are grieving with you. Our nation is grieving with you.”
