Leavitt Defends Trump, Denies Blame for Texas Floods Killing 80+

In the aftermath of the catastrophic flooding in Central Texas that resulted in at least 82 deaths, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt strongly condemned Democratic leaders and some media outlets for falsely blaming President Trump for the disaster. Leavitt described these accusations as "depraved lies" and emphasized that the National Weather Service (NWS) had effectively done its job, even deploying extra staff during the storm and issuing timely flash flood warnings. She accused critics of exploiting the tragedy for political gain and called for respect and support for the affected communities during this time of national mourning. Meanwhile, some public figures and commentators blamed the administration for cutting jobs at the NWS and ignoring climate change, though these claims were disputed by evidence of NWS preparedness. Leavitt reiterated that the administration’s focus is on recovery efforts and expressed President Trump's condolences and planned visit to Texas. The political debate around the floods highlights a sharp divide over responsibility and response to natural disasters under the Trump administration.