‘This doesn’t looks like America First’: Tornado survivors in Deep Red Southern States say feds have ghosted them
Earlier this year, nearly 20 tornadoes tore through multiple towns in Mississippi, claiming seven lives and damaging hundreds of homes. Months have passed, but residents are still waiting for help from President Donald Trump’s administration to arrive.
A recent report by PBS NewsHour highlighted that despite Mississippi being a deeply conservative state that backed Trump in each of his presidential runs, there has been no sign of federal support. According to PBS, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) formally requested a federal disaster declaration on April 1 in response to the March storms, yet the Trump administration has remained silent. One of the hardest-hit locations was Tylertown, the county seat of Walthall County in the southern region of the state.
“I know President Trump said that ‘America First, we’re gonna help our American folks first,’ but we haven’t seen the federal folks down here,” Tylertown resident Bobby McGinnis told PBS.
“I don’t know what you got to do or what you got to have to be able to be declared for a federal disaster area because this is pretty bad,” said Brian Lowery, another Tylertown resident. “We can’t help you because, whatever, we’re waiting on a letter; we’re waiting on somebody to sign his name. You know, all that. I’m just over it.”
The request from Mississippi is still pending, and it comes during a time of major upheaval within FEMA. Acting administrator Cameron Hamilton was recently fired after publicly challenging Trump’s intention to dismantle the agency, and an internal review has now declared FEMA “not ready” for the fast-approaching 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which kicks off June 1.
And it’s not just Mississippi being left behind. Arkansas, another Trump-leaning state, is also struggling to get help. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) applied for federal disaster funds after tornadoes struck her state earlier this year. FEMA denied the initial request—and also rejected her appeal. Meanwhile, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley (R) recently used his time during a Senate hearing to press Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for aid after deadly tornadoes battered his home state.
Despite campaign promises of prioritizing “America First,” the slow response—or lack thereof—from Trump’s administration has left disaster-stricken communities across red states feeling abandoned and frustrated.
Sources:
Watch the PBS segmentfrom above or go thorugh this link.
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