Trump: ‘Probably There’s Never Been’ A US Disaster As Expensive As Harvey

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott listens as President Donald Trump speaks about Harvey relief efforts, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, at the the Texas Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said there has “probably” never been a disaster as expensive as Hurricane Harvey in U.S. history.

“Harvey. Sounds like such an innocent name,” Trump said at a briefing in Austin, Texas. “It’s not. It’s not innocent.”

He said “the sad thing” about Harvey, which has a rising death toll, was that it “is longterm.”

“Nobody’s ever seen anything this long and nobody’s seen this much water,” Trump said. “Probably there’s never been anything so expensive in our country’s history.”

Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Brock Long on Sunday said the agency would be helping with Texas’ recovery from the hurricane “for years.”

“We’re setting up and gearing up for the next couple years,” he said. “This disaster is going to be a landmark event.”

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for zsak zsak says:

    “Harvey. Sounds like such an innocent name,” Trump said at a briefing in Austin, Texas. “It’s not. It’s not innocent.”

    What an idiot.

  2. “Probably there’s never been anything so expensive in our country’s history.”

    Well, other than the American Revolution, the Civil War, either World War, or the Cold War.

    Oh, and Trump’s security detail for the past six months.

    Did I mention my liquor bill since November?

    Plus two observations about that photo:

    1. The faux look of seriousness on Abbott’s face, as he tries not to laugh.

    2. The HUGE, MANLY, OVERCOMPENSATING FONT on Trump’s name card, next to Abbott’s dinky one.

  3. In fairness, he did promise everything under him would be YUUGGEE!!!

  4. This is what happens when you just pull stuff out of your ass instead of briefing with experts in your administration. Or you don’t bother to get any experts in your administration.

  5. “Harvey is an innocent name! Sheriff Joe is an innocent name.
    Now your Manuel, or your Muhammad, or Pocohantas–them’s your guilty names!!!
    And Hillary!!!
    Did you know Hillary is a crooked name?”

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

131 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ghost Avatar for marby Avatar for sysprog Avatar for george_spiggott Avatar for irasdad Avatar for thebigragu Avatar for sparrowhawk Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for arc_of_the_universe Avatar for maxaroo Avatar for theotherjim Avatar for leftcoaster Avatar for dickweed Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for darrtown Avatar for jonney_5 Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for spencersmom Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for drtv Avatar for outsidertrading618 Avatar for byteboy Avatar for glaze_of_boring

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: