WH defends Trump’s ‘first hand’ comments on Harvey

The White House defended President Trump’s comments Wednesday that he saw “first hand” the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.

The defense comes after Trump visited Texas on Tuesday amid ongoing recovery efforts from Harvey, which caused devastating flooding in the region.

After his trip, Trump tweeted: “After witnessing first hand the horror & devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey,my heart goes out even more so to the great people of Texas!”

After witnessing first hand the horror & devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey,my heart goes out even more so to the great people of Texas!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2017

{mosads}The president faced some push back on those remarks. Some reporters noted that the president only visited Corpus Christi and Austin, avoiding the hardest hit areas in Rockport and in the Houston area. 

He saw literally no damage while in Texas. #Harvey I was in Corpus Christi with him. And there’s nothing to see in Austin. https://t.co/EIyiNi6wT1

— J. David McSwane (@davidmcswane) August 30, 2017

Our reporting does not match claim that @POTUS witnessed any horror or devastation first hand. #harvey https://t.co/KP4ejyLVpF @dallasnews https://t.co/HBObIh9Tgt

— Todd J. Gillman (@toddgillman) August 30, 2017

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked what Trump meant by his remarks.

“He met with a number of state and local officials who are eating, sleeping, breathing the Harvey disaster,” Sanders told reporters.

She added that Trump talked “extensively” with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

“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,” she said.

“And detailed briefing information throughout the day yesterday talking to a lot of the people on the ground — that certainly is a firsthand account.”

Thousands of people have been displaced in the aftermath of Harvey, which brought devastating rain and flooding to the region.

Recovery efforts are ongoing, and the number of storm-related deaths continues to rise.

Trump is expected to make another visit to Texas on Saturday to visit other areas still reeling from the storm.