White House defends Trump's Harvey tweet with a creative definition of 'firsthand'

Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott monitor Tropical Storm Harvey

(Image credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 31 August 2017

On Wednesday morning, after President Trump's trip Tuesday to Corpus Christi and Austin to monitor the response to Tropical Storm Harvey, the president tweeted a message of empathy for the great people of Texas.

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He met with a number of state and local officials who are eating, sleeping, breathing the Harvey disaster. He talked extensively with the governor, who certainly is right in the midst of every bit of this, as well as the mayors from several of the local towns that were hit hardest. And detailed briefing information throughout the day yesterday, talking to a lot of the people on the ground — that certainly is a firsthand account. [White House]

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.