Exclusive – J.D. Vance is “keeping his promise” to American voters as he makes his first trip as vice president To Damascus, Virginia, on Monday to visit areas affected by Hurricane Helen in late September.
it will be Vance's second trip to Damascus Since the hurricane swept across the Southeast on September 27, it has destroyed parts of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida and left more than 200 people dead.
“Vice President Vance visited with residents of Damascus in October after the city was devastated by Hurricane Helen,” a spokesperson for the vice president told Fox News Digital. “He pledged to come back and now he's keeping his word. The first week of this administration has made clear that President Trump and Vice President Vance are keeping their word.”
Vance's trip comes just days after President Donald Trump, Melania Trump and other politicians visited Asheville, Flutcher and Swannanoa, North Carolina, on January 24, marking the now-president's second trip to those areas since September.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, left, takes an oath as his wife, Osha Vance, watches during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Photo by Kevin LaMarque/Pool via AP)
Trump spoke in the Tri-Cities but allowed a group of locals who lost everything in Helen to share their personal stories during his stop in Swannanoa. Some locals have taken issue with FEMA's handling of the disaster, saying it has too much red tape for those in need of immediate assistance to get the help they need, whether it's housing, money or both.
“I will also sign an executive order to essentially begin the reform process and FEMA repair“Or maybe get rid of FEMA,” Trump told reporters in North Carolina on Friday morning. I think, frankly, FEMA is no good.”
FEMA extends transitional housing program for North Carolina residents displaced by Hurricane Helen
US President Donald Trump speaks during his visit in a neighborhood affected by Hurricane Helen in Swannanoa, North Carolina, on January 24, 2025. .
Trump also promised that his administration would go in and help North Carolina quickly resolve the damage, vowing to “do a good job” for the state.
Click here to get the Fox News app
“We're going to fix it, and we're going to fix it as quickly as we can,” Trump said. “It's a huge amount of damage. FEMA has really let us down. It's let the country down. And I don't know if this is Biden's fault or his, but we'll take care of it. Do a good job.”
Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this report.
