President Obama Announces Visit to Louisiana

President Barack Obama will visit Louisiana more than a week after the torrential floodwaters have left the Baton Rouge area in devastation.

More than 40,000 homes have been destroyed by the worst floodwaters since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. 13 residents have died and tens of thousands of others are displaced and struggling to get food and water.

The media has remained largely silent about Obama's decision to stay on vacation in Martha's vineyard, but shortly after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made a visit to the state, Obama announced his plan to arrive in Baton Rouge on Tuesday.

Baton Rouge's local newspaper, The Advocate, called out Obama for lack of concern telling the president that "hurting Louisiana needs you now". They also criticized his decision to attend a Hillary Clinton fundraiser.

 "(I)f the president can interrupt his vacation for a swanky fundraiser for fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, as he did on Monday, then surely he can make time to show up for a catastrophe that's displaced thousands," it read.
 
"The optics of Obama golfing while Louisiana residents languished in flood waters was striking. It evoked the precedent of the passive federal response to the state's agony in 2005, a chapter of history no one should ever repeat," it added.

During his visit with running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trump said the state was in need of help. He also criticized the president for failing to visit the state.

"The president says he doesn't want to come, he is trying to get out of a golf game," Trump said.

However, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told reporters during a press conference that he is not bothered by the president’s decision to not visit the city right away.

"I am not complaining about our federal partnership in any way," Edwards said. "The president is welcome to visit whenever he wants to visit."