Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump and Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp will tour storm damage from Hurricane Helene on Friday.
The rare appearance together will mark Trump’s second visit to the state since storms damaged the area a week ago.
“President Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America, and Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp will visit Evans, Georgia to receive a briefing on the devastation of Hurricane Helene, and deliver remarks to the press on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 3:45PM EDT,” a brief announcement from the Trump campaign on Thursday read.
The meeting will also mark the first time the two GOP leaders have made a public appearance together since 2020.
Trump and Kemp’s relationship turned negative following a close election in Georgia in 2020 that ended with President Joe Biden winning by approximately 12,000 votes. The state was the target of various legal controversies and efforts to challenge the state’s official voting results.
In recent weeks, the two leaders have appeared to mend their relationship. Kemp has publicly supported Trump’s 2024 campaign, while Trump has shifted his tone with the governor.
Trump visited Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday to distribute supplies and survey damages. A Trump-authorized fundraising page on GoFundMe has since raised over $5 million to help storm victims.
He also announced that he had spoken with SpaceX founder Elon Musk about providing Starlink satellite internet services in the impacted areas to help in recovery efforts.
“I just spoke to Elon. We want to get Starlink hooked up because they have no communication whatsoever. And Elon will always come through. We know that. So we’re working on that,” Trump said.
The 45th president also called for prayers for storm victims during last Sunday’s rally in Erie, Pennsylvania.
“Before we begin, I’d like to send my love and prayers to the families of those who have died — a lot of death — and all of those who are displaced and suffering in the wake of the hurricane’s destruction in the South, especially in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and in particular, western North Carolina, [which] took a tremendous hit. It’s been absolutely devasted. May God be with you all,” Trump said.