Trump marvels at how Harvey 'sounds like such an innocent name' — but 'it's not innocent'

What's in a name, President Trump pondered Tuesday as he visited Texas in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey. "Harvey. Sounds like such an innocent name, Ben, right?" Trump said to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. "But it's not innocent." Trump also called the deadly storm "no angel."
At another point, Trump noted that "probably there's never been something so expensive in our country's history" as the flooding in Texas, which has left an estimated 30,000 people displaced. "The sad thing is that this is long term. Nobody's ever seen anything this long and nobody's ever seen this much water," Trump said. Regarding the Harvey floodwaters, Trump reportedly remarked: "It's maybe someday going to disappear. We keep waiting."
Earlier in the day, Trump marveled at the "turnout" outside his briefing in Corpus Christi, Texas; remarked on how FEMA Administrator Brock Long "has become very famous on television in the last couple days"; and assured Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) that they could "congratulate each other when it's all finished."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A White House pooler noted in a report that "reporters heard no mention of the dead, dying, or displaced Texans, and no expression of sympathy for them."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department