Trump talked about everything but hurricanes at his FEMA hurricane preparedness meeting


While meeting with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials Wednesday, President Trump offered a few brief words about hurricane preparedness and Puerto Rico. But he had a lot to say about, well, everything else.
The Washington Post obtained audio of the private meeting, which demonstrated Trump's meandering stream of consciousness while operating without a script. The meeting was ostensibly to prepare for the 2018 hurricane season, which began this month, but Trump only briefly mentioned Puerto Rico, where more than 4,500 people are believed to have died in the aftermath of September's Hurricane Maria. The Post said that Trump didn't mention the victims, instead praising the response to the disaster.
The president quickly moved on from the topic of hurricanes, saying "we'll maybe make a deal" with North Korea during Tuesday's summit in Singapore. "Maybe and maybe not. Who knows?" He commented on the California elections, bragging that "we won every seat that I endorsed" and analyzing the polls that he's "not sure" he believes.
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.
Trump also oddly focused on airplane price negotiations, complaining that the military unnecessarily wants all-new aircraft equipment that can be pricey. Without evidence, he claimed that he managed to bring plane prices down "by millions of dollars." Read more of Trump's off-topic comments, ranging from coal companies to Apple to his popularity, at The Washington Post.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Morales seeks re-election defying constitution and criminal charges
Under the Radar Supporters of former president Evo Morales clash with authorities as political and economic turmoil deepens
-
June 22 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include a SpaceX flight, Bibi pulling Donald Trump toward war, and an ICE agent looking like a bank robber
-
5 bunker-busting cartoons about the Israel-Iran war
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on Iran waiting for Pete Hegseth to leak war plans and Donald Trump's wish for a Nobel prize
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests
-
Trump foists National Guard on unwilling California
speed read Protests erupted over ICE immigration raids in LA county
-
Supreme Court lowers bar in discrimination cases
speed read The court ruled in favor of a white woman who claimed she lost two deserved promotions to gay employees
-
Trump-Musk relationship implodes in taunts, threats
speed read Musk said Trump's multitrillion bill would cause a recession and accused the president of involvement with Jeffrey Epstein