WATCH: Ari Fleischer Says Trump’s Harvey Visit Lacks ‘Empathy’

Image by Getty
Ari Fleischer, press secretary under President George W. Bush, told Fox News last night that Trump’s visit to Houston amid the catastrophic flooding crippling the city lacked a certain something: empathy.
“There was something missing from what President Trump said ― I hope he’ll say it later today ― but that’s the empathy for the people who suffered,” Fleisher said Tuesday. “That, in my opinion, should have been the first thing he should have said was that his heart goes out to those people in Houston who are going through this and that the government is here to help them to recover from this.”
“These are the individual human stories that stir us and make us connected as Americans ― that when calamity hits, we help one another,” he said.
Trump’s visit drew fire when he started a speech by praising the size of the crowd outside a firehouse in Corpus Christi.
Steve Perez: 60, 34 year veteran of Houston PD, died in floodwaters today. Trump: “What a crowd. What a turnout.”pic.twitter.com/BaBw0J3wwU
— Holly O’Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) August 29, 2017
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
