On July 11, 2025, President Donald Trump traveled to Kerrville, Texas, where at least 121 people have died and about 170 remain missing following devastating flash floods. At a roundtable with local officials and first responders, a CBS News reporter asked what he would say to families who believe that earlier warnings could have saved lives. Trump responded by praising the rescue efforts and then harshly criticized the question, stating, “Only a very evil person would ask a question like that.” He dismissed concerns over warning systems and instead turned to a pro-Trump reporter for another question.
The incident reignited scrutiny of the emergency response. Though the National Weather Service issued flood warnings in advance, some local authorities have come under fire especially after Kerr County failed to deploy alerts immediately, despite having requested funding for warning systems in previous years. Republican Representative Chip Roy defended Trump’s reaction, denouncing the reporter’s question as finger-pointing.
As recovery continues and investigations into preparedness progress, many families and officials are now demanding clearer explanations and rapid improvements to flood-warning protocols in the region.
