President Donald Trump toured the devastation from catastrophic flooding in Texas and lauded local officials amid mounting criticism that they failed to warn residents quickly enough that a deadly wall of water was coming their way.

Mr. Trump and Abbott promised to rebuild the devastated region, although the president recognized that what was lost can never be recovered.

"It’s hard to believe the devastation," Trump said. "Trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground. I've never seen anything like this, and I've seen a lot of bad ones."

Just weeks ago, President Donald Trump said he wanted to begin “phasing out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this hurricane season to “wean off of FEMA” and “bring it down to the state level.

Joined by first lady Melania Trump and officials, Trump surveyed the devastation and met with victims' families and emergency responders.

Kristi Noem detailed how the federal government deployed resources and funds to Texas flood victims, signaling fundamental changes to FEMA under the Trump administration.

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited Central Texas Friday to survey the devastation wrought by last week's deadly flooding.

By Trevor Hunnicutt and Maria Alejandra CardonaKERRVILLE, Texas (Reuters) -President Donald Trump defended the state and federal response to deadly flash flooding in Texas on Friday as he visited the stricken Hill Country region,

Texas, joins 'Fox News Sunday' to discuss his experience walking President Donald Trump around the destruction caused by floods in Kerr County, Texas.