"We're looking at the whole concept of FEMA," Trump told reporters Friday after Air Force One touched down in Asheville, North Carolina.

The president cited the disasters during his inauguration speech Monday as examples of an insufficient federal response to communities in need.

While he has expressed support for North Carolina residents, the president has criticized California’s Democratic leaders and threatened to withhold federal aid from the state.

President Donald Trump, with 16 visits last year en route to the White House, is returning to North Carolina on Friday for the first time since

SWANNANOA, N.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump said he was considering “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a trip to disaster zones Friday, offering the latest sign of how he is weighing sweeping changes to the nation’s central organization for responding to disasters.

The new president will visit hurricane-hit areas in Asheville and fire-devastated neighbourhoods in Los Angeles.

He did not offer clear details on what he would replace it with, but indicated he wants to move more of the disaster management responsibility to the states.