President Donald Trump has proposed cutting the federal role in disaster response, suggesting that states should take care of disasters themselves. Trump made the comments during a visit to California and North Carolina, where he surveyed damage from recent wildfires and Hurricane Helene.

“I’d like to see the states take care of disasters,” Trump said in North Carolina. “Let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen.” Trump also criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), saying that he was considering “getting rid of” the agency.

In California, Trump met with Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has been critical of the president in the past. Despite their differences, the two appeared to get along, with Newsom praising Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re going to need your support,” Newsom told Trump. “We’re going to need your help.” Trump responded by promising to provide federal assistance to the state, but also suggested that California’s water policies had contributed to the wildfires.

Trump’s visit to California and North Carolina came as he faces criticism for his administration’s response to natural disasters. In North Carolina, residents told Trump about their struggles to recover from Hurricane Helene, which hit the state in September.

“We’ve come to North Carolina with a simple message,” Trump said. “You are not forgotten any longer. You were treated very badly by the previous administration.” Trump’s administration has distributed $319 million in financial assistance to residents affected by the hurricane, but some have criticized the response as inadequate.