Donald Trump visits Evans, addresses storm recovery efforts

Arriving in Evans to streets lined with supporters, former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp delivered messages of encouragement tempered by criticism of the current administration. Presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives in Evans with Governor Brian Kemp for a Hurricane Helene press event on October 4, 2024. After a short update on the current state of recovery efforts in Columbia County, Governor Kemp kicked off a brief press event by indicating that as significant as the damage from Hurricane Helene has been, he was encouraged by the acts of kindness he has seen across the state. He said he saw examples of empathy at every stop and that the resolve of the people of Georgia has been inspiring. “They feed those without food,” he said. "They are housing those without homes.” Brian Kemp addresses the press and assembled dignitaries at a special Hurricane Helene recovery event. Follow his address, Trump took the podium, speaking for about ten minutes. He opened by talking about speaking to the crews charged with recovery efforts across the state. “They tell me they have never seen one like this,” he said. “This is the worst they have ever seen.” Trump spoke of the more than 200 confirmed dead and said that number would, unfortunately, probably continue to rise. He said that, given the authority, recovery would be a priority. “If I’m involved, we are going to give the best treatment,” he said. “We are going to take great care in record time.” Donald Trump addressed Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in Evan on October 4, 2024. Governor Brian Kemp joined him at the podium. Although he insisted his visit to Evans was focused on lives rather than votes, he did take a moment to criticize what he saw as a slow and insufficient response from the Biden administration. “It has been a terrible response from the White House,” he said. “They are missing a billion dollars that were used for another purpose.” Later he said that funds that should have gone to recovery efforts had, instead, gone illegal immigrants. “Illegals have taken jobs,” he said. “Money that should have gone to North Carolina and Georgia has, instead, gone to illegals.” When asked about working with Kemp, with whom he has sometimes had a contentious relationship, he said they were “good.” “We have always worked well together,” he said. Before leaving the podium, Trump was asked how he thought he would fare against Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia. He said the numbers were encouraging. “It looks, right now, like we are going up and they are going down,” he said. “I hope it stays that way.”