‘It’s terrible’: Trump speaks about loss of life from flooding at roundtable with state, local leaders in Kerrville

AUSTIN (KXAN) — President Donald Trump spoke about the loss of life as a result of the flooding while surrounded by state and city leaders in Kerrville on Friday.

“Dozens and dozens of precious children taken from us. It’s terrible,” he said during a news conference at the roundtable.

Watch the full discussion at the roundtable in the video player above

After surveying the damage, Trump said, “I had never seen anything like it. A little narrow river that becomes a monster.”

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in San Antonio at Kelly Field Air Base just after noon on Friday. They then boarded Marine 1 to fly to Kerrville.

Trump arrived in Kerrville just after 1 p.m. and received a briefing by local officials alongside Melania Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott.

President Trump and Melania Trump also met with first responders and family members who were affected by the July 4 flood.

Melania Trump also spoke at the roundtable, giving her sympathies to the families who lost someone in the flooding.

“My deepest sympathy to all of the parents who lost beautiful young souls. We are grieving with you, our nation is grieving with you,” Melania Trump said.

Melania Trump said a bracelet was given to her by a girls’ summer camp that was devastated in the flooding in honor of little girls who lost their lives.

Gov. Greg Abbott also spoke at the round table and highlighted the strength of Texans when it comes to facing tragedy.

“We are one team united, we are Texans. Fighting as Texans, we are going to rebuild not just Kerrville, Hunt, or Kerr County, but across the entire state, across regions. We are going to come together and fight together and ensure that we elevate even better,” Abbott said, “We will be our quintessential selves, and that is Texas tough and Texas resilient.”

Among those also accompanying Trump were Congressman Pete Sessions, R-Texas, Congressman Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.

On Thursday, Cornyn spoke on the Senate floor and honored the lives lost in the July 4 flooding.

“I want all who’ve lost loved ones to know that the prayers of those of us here, and I believe across the nation, are lifting them up and we are with them during their time of unimaginable grief,” Cornyn said.

On Sunday, Trump approved a disaster declaration from Abbott related to severe flooding across Texas during the July 4 weekend.

“President Trump stands strong with Texas in our time of need, and I thank him for swiftly approving Texas’ disaster declaration request,” Abbott said in a press release. “This federal support will ensure local officials, emergency management personnel, and first responders have the critical resources they need to help Texans rebuild and recover from these devastating floods.