A Houston news executive has snapped at Donald Trump after the president attacked the media’s coverage of Harvey in another bizarre swipe at the press.
During a visit to Texas to meet evacuees and volunteers following Hurricane Harvey Trump praised the Coast Guard for having ‘saved 11,000 people.’
‘Think of it, almost 11,000 people by going into winds that the media would not go into,’ Trump said at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, before gesturing toward the press.
‘They will not go into those winds, unless it’s a really good story,’ he added, chuckling to himself.
Responding to that Bill Bishop, the managing editor of KHOU-TV in Houston, tweeted his frustration at the president’s constant attacks on the media.
He said: ‘I’ve had with the insults. Let’s see him stand in E. coli water reporting for hours like the media does.’
Donald Trump took a swipe at the press during a second visit to Texas on Saturday
Bill Bishop, the managing editor of KHOU-TV in Houston, snapped at Trump for his attacks
Trump made the remarks during his second visit to Texas after he was roundly criticized for failing to meet flood victims on his first trip to the disaster zone.
In a shelter full of families who had lost their homes and possessions he said: ‘It’s been really nice. It’s been a wonderful thing. As tough as this was, it’s been a wonderful thing, I think, even for the country to watch it and for the world to watch. It’s been beautiful.
‘Have a good time, everybody!’ the president then shouted to a group of reporters.
Trump met flood victims on Saturday after failing to do so during his first visit to Texas
Since Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane last week major media outlets have provided near constant coverage of the storm.
Some have even been involved in rescue efforts – some on live TV – while out reporting.
CNN reporter Drew Griffin rescued a man who drove into a ravine on live TV last week.
ITV News journalist Robert Moore also helped a blind man suffering from a seizure who found himself trapped by flood waters.
KHOU 11 News reporter Brandi Smith and photographer Mario Sandoval also alerted rescuers to a man stuck inside a flooded truck on Beltway 8 at the Hardy Toll Road.
Other cable crews similarly found themselves helping out in between live shots, and serving as transport for individuals left without any vehicles.
The devastating hurricane made landfall in the state a week ago and has been blamed for at least 47 deaths. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue teams continue to search for missing people.
About 43,000 people are being housed in shelters.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said the bill for reconstruction after Hurricane Harvey could be as high as $180bn.