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President Donald Trump returned to Dallas for a private fundraiser on Wednesday afternoon.
The event was scheduled for last month but was canceled because of Hurricane Harvey recovery. The president visited the Houston area at that time.
It was a whirlwind trip for the president. From the time he landed in Dallas to the time he took off, Mr. Trump was in North Texas for about four hours. During that time, he talked hurricane relief and is said to have raised some $4 million for the Republican National Committee.
Trump arrived at Love Field before 3:30 p.m. where Gov. Greg Abbott greeted him on the tarmac. Then, they took off for a briefing with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on the Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.
“Mr. President, I applaud you for working with me and people of the state of Texas to make sure we recover,” Abbott told Trump. “He continues to show his commitment to the people of Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey and the flooding events. He has seen firsthand the challenges Texans face during his multiple trips. He has seen homes destroyed, businesses destroyed. He’s seen the needs that we have.”
At the meeting, it was revealed that Texas is receiving $1.3 billion from the federal government. About $400 million will go to individual towns and cities. Mr. Trump also talked about the feds funding a reservoir.
“We're going to look at the concept of a more permanent solution because you do get inundated for decades,” the president said. “Houston has had difficulty with that, and we're going to look at solving it with a more permanent basis.”
A $36 billion storm relief was approved Tuesday night by the Senate and is awaiting the president's signature. He did not mention that but did applaud the state's hurricane response.
"First responders, military -- everybody," Trump said. "And I do single out the Coast Guard. I think it's something unsung, but they were out there and they were following, tremendous peril to themselves. They were just right on the edges, and they'd just follow it right in and saved 16,000 people. Think of what could've been if we'd lost anywhere near that. Maybe one of the worst catastrophes we've ever had."
After the meeting, President Trump traveled by motorcade to the Belo Mansion in Downtown Dallas to take part in a roundtable discussion with RNC supporters and donors. There was heavy police prescience with several blocks shot down as the president was greeted by dozens of angry protesters.
“It's pathetic,” said Trump protester Merceda Winder. “Ever since he was elected on November 9, I have been in a major depression.”
But mixed within the vocal yet peaceful crowd that was kept across the street from the venue were a few supporters.
“I think he's trying to do a lot for the country,” said Nancy Andison. “And I just feel a lot of people are trying to stop him from doing anything. But he's our president. Like it or not, accept it.”
Abbott did not attend the GOP fundraiser because he went to another fundraiser for Hurricane Harvey recovery. Patrick attended the private event, with tickets for the fundraiser ranging from $2,700 to $100,000.
“He made a great point. He talked about tax cuts,” the lieutenant governor said. “The problem with using the word tax reform is people mean what does reform mean. He said tax cuts. People need to know their taxes are going to be cut.”
President Trump then made his way back to Dallas Love Field around 6:30 p.m. to make the trip back home to Washington.