Trump Pretends Not to Hear Difficult Question on Texas Deaths
The president later tried to pin the flood toll on the “Biden setup.”
President Donald Trump was hearing reporters just fine until one of them asked him about federal cuts in the aftermath of the devastating floods in Texas.
Trump spoke to reporters in New Jersey on Sunday after flash floods wreaked havoc in central Texas over the weekend, killing at least 80 people and sending over 40 others missing. Critics were quick to blame the calamitous toll on the administration’s overhaul of the federal government, which included staff cuts at the National Weather Service.
“Democrats are blaming your federal cuts for the deaths over in Texas,” one reporter, who could be heard audibly projecting their voice, asked Trump.
Though the president leaned in to hear better, he decided to wave off the question.
“I can’t hear you,” he said, as he moved on to another reporter.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Asked later on if he had plans to look into whether the cuts at the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency left key positions vacant, Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick shook their heads.
“They didn’t,” Trump said. “I’ll tell you: You look at that water situation, that was really the Biden setup. That was not our setup. But I wouldn’t blame Biden for it either; I would just say this is a hundred-year catastrophe, and it’s just so horrible to watch.”
President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speak to reporters after the Texas flash floods
REUTERS
Trump also appeared unsure when asked whether the federal government should hire back any of the meteorologists who were gutted in the administration’s slash-and-burn approach to downsizing.
“I wouldn’t know that. I really wouldn’t. I would think not,” he said. “This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it, nobody saw it. Very talented people are there and they didn’t see it.”
The National Weather Service, however, has said it conducted forecast briefings and issued warnings hours before the floods came.
The National Water Center has issued an Area Hydrologic Discussion (#144) for the Texas Hill Country into early Friday morning. #flooding https://t.co/Pz6VN3CEK4 #txwx pic.twitter.com/pKPOfkCk95
— National Water Center (@nwsnwc) July 3, 2025
“Flash Flood Warnings were also issued on the night of July 3 and in the early morning of July 4, giving preliminary lead times of more than three hours before flash flooding conditions occurred,” a spokesperson for the agency told the Daily Beast.
Trump said he plans to visit Texas “probably on Friday” to avoid getting in the way of local authorities responding to the situation.
“We’re working very close with representatives from Texas,” he said. “And it’s a horrible thing that took place, absolutely horrible.”
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.