Subject: Travel Pool report #8:
Motorcade arrived 11.25 at scene of devastation in rural Tennessee outside Cookeville. Pic attached. We are beside flattened house. POTUS is getting guided tour.
Groups of well-wishers appeared along the first part of the route through Cookeville. “God bless you Mr President,” read one sign. Some red MAGA hats were in evidence along with several blue Trump 2020 flags.
The final stretch brought us past boarded up windows and downed trees.
Subject: Travel Pool report #9: Tornado devastation and spray
Note coronavirus line at end.
Trump surveyed a landscape of shredded roofs, splintered trees and crushed cars.
He was joined by the governor and first lady of Tennessee.
His guide was a local emergency worker Mike Herrick.
He praised local officials including governor Mike Lee and the work of FEMA.
“This is real devastation... Hope we never see again,” he said.
“You see what happened. We saw it from the helicopter very well.”
Tennessee governor Bill Lee thanked him for support and speedy action
“It’s been a tragic, painful week for our state,” he said
“God has used volunteers to bring hope to the state.”
POTUS: “Great people, great state.”
He asked how many lives were lost and Lee told him 25 and thousands lost their homes.
“We’re going to see some of the people who really survived,” he said.
“Obviously anyone in these homes was killed, he said pointing to flattened buildings
“Very little warning.”
“We love ‘em, they are special people,” he said of local people
“Already they are rebuilding.”
“Flying over you already see the blue roofs going up.”
“They didn’t know what happened. They were watching television and then ...”
On helping airlines and other industries on Coronavirus:
“We’re looking at different options.”
He told story of boy ripped from his house and found in street outside.
“He said ‘I was just flying ... I was carried by the air away from him house.’ His parents were killed “