Trump: 'Tough as [Harvey] Was, It's Been a Wonderful Thing'

On his visit to a Texas shelter for storm victims Saturday, President Trump declared he sees "a lot of love" in the wake of devastation left by Harvey, the AP reports. "We saw a lot of happiness," he told reporters after he and first lady Melania Trump greeted children in the kids' zone in Houston's NRG Center, an emergency refuge for people who were forced out of their homes. "As tough as this was, it's been a wonderful thing." It was his second trip to Texas in a week, and this time his first order of business was to meet with those affected by the record-setting rainfall and flooding. That interaction was missing from Tuesday's trip to Texas, which was criticized as being off-key for a presidential visit to discuss communities in crisis.

During his visit to NRG Center, Trump cupped a boy's face in his hands and then gave him a high-five. He lifted a girl into his arms to give her a kiss. He snapped on latex gloves to hand out boxed lunches of hot dogs and potato chips. Joining Trump on Saturday were four Cabinet secretaries and other administration officials, including Brock Long, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Trump has sent lawmakers an initial request for a $7.9 billion down payment toward Harvey relief and recovery efforts—a request expected to be swiftly approved by Congress, which returns to work Tuesday after its summer break. (More Donald Trump stories.)