Trump makes surprise visit to North Carolina, announces GoFundMe has raised $8 million for Hurricane Helene victims

"I want to thank everyone who supported the GoFundMe. We set it up right after the storm left, almost immediately, and I authorized a lot of people to help," Trump said, adding that property and material goods could be replaced, but nothing will erase the effect that death has had in the community.

"To date, we raised $8 million, of which $7 million has been distributed to the various charities that are helping" clean up the impacted areas by Hurricane Helene. The page states, "With so many still facing challenges after the storm, President Trump is once again on the ground in communities to see the aftermath firsthand. All donations are directed to help those most affected by Hurricane Helene by supporting these organizations: Samaritan’s Purse, Water Mission, Clinch Foundation and Mtn2Sea Ministries."

Trump said that there is not much you can do to stop the power of nature and took aim at the Biden-Harris administration for their response to Hurricane Helene's devastation. "You gotta get a little bit better crew to do a better job than has been done by the White House. It's been not good," Trump added. "I'm here today in western North Carolina to express a simple message to the incredible people of the state: I'm with you and the American people are with you all the way."

"On January 20th, you're gonna have a I think a new crew coming in to do it properly and help you in a proper manner," the GOP nominee added in his remarks.

The GOP nominee said that he would bring businesses back to the area in order to incentivize more prosperity in North Carolina with tax incentives and tariffs. "We're going to have a lot of people moving back to your state and this region. But your state, they're going to be very interested in North Carolina. We'll stop throwing our money overseas, and we're going to let our country benefit. We're going to put America first."

He told North Carolinians that if he becomes president, their communities will be better off than they were before the storm.

Devastation in North Carolina has been reported to be worse than many originally thought it was going to be. Many are still missing after the flood waters destroyed many homes in the western part of the state.