White House defends Trump as Democrats blame him for Texas flood deaths; National Weather Service actions detailed.

Administration Pushes Back Against Political Blame

The White House on Monday issued a forceful rebuttal to Democratic lawmakers and media figures who have blamed President Donald Trump for the deadly flash floods that struck Texas, resulting in at least 91 fatalities. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt targeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats, calling their accusations a "depraved lie" that exploited a period of national mourning for political gain.

Leavitt laid out a detailed timeline of National Weather Service (NWS) warnings and press briefings, emphasizing that federal agencies delivered timely and accurate forecasts in advance of the flooding. According to the Department of Homeland Security, flood watches and flash flood warnings were issued hours before the disaster, giving local communities time to respond. Meteorologists described the event as the result of a slow-moving storm system that unleashed intense rainfall and overwhelmed regional waterways.

Debate Over Cuts, Climate Policy and Disaster Response

Amid ongoing recovery efforts, several Democratic officials—including Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Frank Pallone, and Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro—linked the tragedy to climate change and recent federal budget cuts affecting the NWS and other weather-related agencies. Some critics claimed that staff vacancies and the rollback of environmental regulations under Trump directly contributed to the high death toll, while others cited the signing of recent energy bills and alleged defunding of key weather services.

These arguments were amplified on social media and in national news outlets, with prominent Democrats and commentators asserting that the Trump administration’s policies left the region vulnerable to catastrophic flooding. Some voices, including former Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Democratic Party officials, argued that weakened climate policies and under-resourced agencies made extreme weather more deadly and frequent.

However, White House officials and multiple meteorologists disputed these claims. Leavitt insisted that "the National Weather Service did its job" by issuing early warnings and coordinating with local emergency managers. Texas-based meteorologists and the National Weather Service Employees Organization confirmed that timely and sufficient alerts were in place before and during the storm. Tom Fahy, a legislative director for the NWS union, acknowledged that some leadership roles remained unfilled but affirmed that forecasting offices performed effectively.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson condemned what she described as attempts to politicize the tragedy. "It’s shameful and disgusting that in the wake of tragedy, the left’s first instinct is to lie and politicize a disaster to target their political opponents. False claims about the NWS have been repeatedly debunked by meteorologists, experts and other public reporting," Jackson stated, adding that the Trump administration remains committed to supporting Texas during recovery.

The Department of Homeland Security also released a timeline disputing media accounts and emphasized the rapid federal response to the crisis. As the political debate continues, President Trump is expected to visit Texas later this week to meet with affected families and first responders.

With recovery efforts ongoing, officials called for unity and focus on supporting the victims rather than assigning blame. The debate over the causes and response to the Texas floods highlights deep divisions over disaster preparedness, climate policy, and the role of federal leadership in managing national emergencies.