After Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction across southeastern states, including Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, former President Donald Trump visited Valdosta, Georgia. His ex-wife, Marla Maples, who shares a daughter, Tiffany, praised his efforts.
“Atlanta totaled more than 11 inches of rain in 48 hours, smashing a record that stood for almost 150 years,” noted USA Today. Upon his arrival in Georgia, Trump remarked, “We’re not talking about politics now,” adding that he had spoken with Elon Musk about using Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, to assist in restoring communication.
So happy to see My Daughter’s father @realDonaldTrump in my home state of Georgia 🙏 He is there to support the people and communities after this horrible hurricane We have to keep praying for all of our dear friends in Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and also in Florida……
— marla maples (@itsmarlamaples) September 30, 2024
“Trump’s event was coordinated with Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian humanitarian aid group founded by Franklin Graham, the son of influential evangelical leader Billy Graham,” reported CNBC.
“So happy to see My Daughter’s father @realDonaldTrump in my home state of Georgia,” Maples wrote on X. “He is there to support the people and communities after this horrible hurricane. … We have to keep praying for all of our dear friends in Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and also in Florida… This is not normal folks. God first @TiffanyATrump @SamaritansPurse.”
“We are now heading to Valdosta, Georgia, in order to pay my respects and bring lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things, to the State,” Trump wrote on X. “Many politicians and Law Enforcement will be there. We’ll be saying hello to Franklin Graham, Burt Jones, Tyler Harper, Mike Collins, Austin Scott, Russ Goodman, Sam Watson, and the Mayor of Valdosta Scott James. They are working very hard.”
Georgia GOP Governor Brian Kemp anticipated the hurricane’s impact, issuing an executive order on September 24 that declared a state of emergency. He mobilized 500 National Guard troops for response and recovery efforts and ensured that commercial vehicles operating outside normal weight, height, and length restrictions would receive permits. He emphasized that “nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to allow any vehicle to exceed weight limits posted for bridges and like structures.”
