A reporter from CBS News Texas asked the president Friday if more lives could've been saved if emergency alerts were issued earlier.

President Donald Trump met with victims' families and surveyed the damage of catastrophic floods that struck the state one week ago.

Joined by first lady Melania Trump and officials, Trump surveyed the devastation and met with victims' families and emergency responders.

Here's what to know about the deadly flooding, the colossal weather system that drove it and ongoing efforts to identify victims.

"It’s hard to believe the devastation," Trump said. "Trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground. I've never seen anything like this, and I've seen a lot of bad ones."

While he’s been in communities after hurricanes and tornadoes, President Trump said the devastation he saw after an aerial tour of the flood-ravaged Texas Hill Country on Friday was different.

In early July 2025, a screenshot claimed to show a real Truth Social post by U.S. President Donald Trump calling on people to forget the "Epstein files" and focus on the "beautiful young girls" who died in the Texas flash floods over the Fourth of July. Per the screenshot, Trump wrote:

First Lady Melania Trump paid tribute to victims of the Texas floods by wearing a charm bracelet gifted by a family.