Trump talks to Whitmer about Midland flooding, plans to visit 'in the future'

May 21--WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he spoke to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer about flooding in Midland County and plans to visit at some point in the future.

"I just spoke with Gretchen Whitmer. I will be going to Michigan at the appropriate time," Trump said, according to a White House press pool report. "They have a big problem with the dams breaking. So that is a big, big problem."

"We've sent the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the Army Corps of Engineers out, and they're very good at dams."

Trump will be in Michigan on Thursday for a visit to a Ford Motor plant in Ypsilanti that makes ventilators but no other stops are expected.

Earlier in the day, Trump posted his support on Twitter for efforts to respond to flooding in mid-Michigan that has resulted in thousands of evacuations. Some 10,000 people or more were expected to be displaced in the aftermath of two dams being breached by rising waters on Tuesday and widespread flooding.

"My team is closely monitoring the flooding in Central Michigan -- Stay SAFE and listen to local officials," Trump posted about 10:20 a.m. "Our brave First Responders are once again stepping up to serve their fellow citizens, THANK YOU!"

He also said in a separate post that his administration had already activated military and FEMA response teams, but said Whitmer -- who Trump has criticized in the past -- "must now 'set you free' to help."

Whitmer said at a news briefing late Tuesday she had already contacted federal officials for help and activated the National Guard.

Contact Todd Spangler: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @tsspangler. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.

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