Fact Check: Did Trump divert first responders to DC projects before Grand Canyon floods?

GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA: Soon after the flash floods at Grand Canyon National Park on August 29, a claim began circulating on social media platforms alleging that President Donald Trump diverted first responders from the flood site to the DC beautification project. The claim has sparked criticism of Trump, prompting a fact-check.

Claim: Trump diverted first responders from Grand Canyon, hindering rescue efforts

Earlier this month, claims began circulating online, alleging that Trump diverted 300 first responders to Washington to work on his administration's beautification projects.

Some of the posts cited an online article published by The Lever, whose headline reads, “Before Deadly Floods, Trump Diverted Emergency Responders To Beautify D.C." 

It was accompanied by a subhead stating, “Trump reassigned 300 National Park Service emergency responders to golf course and reflecting-pool renovations before the Grand Canyon flooded." 

The article cited a story by CNN, published on August 25, before the floods, about the Trump administration sending 300 NPS incident management team workers, including a division responding to wildfires and other incidents, to the DC project.

The claim spread on multiple platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, and X, with many appearing to blame Trump for the deaths caused by the floods.

Fact Check: The claim is rated as unconfirmed

However, the claim is rated as unconfirmed, as the CNN article does not say when exactly the alleged staffing shifts occurred.

The article is based on internal communications and department data from anonymous sources.

Also, neither Lever's article nor the viral posts explicitly mention the administration's reported diversion of workers affected rescue efforts following the flash floods.

We were unable to review the documentation cited by CNN, nor were we able to locate evidence that Trump’s diversion of first responders hindered rescue efforts.

A White House Interior Department spokesperson dismissed the speculation, saying, “That is 100% false."

Grand Canyon floods cause major losses and damage

According to the National Park Service (NPS), an agency under the Interior Department, more than 20 people may be missing following the sudden flooding, while at least 62 people have been evacuated from the affected areas.

It also revealed that two people have died, namely John Giusti, 46, and Brent Rosenkranz, 42, both from Granbury, Texas, who were hiking in Bright Angel Canyon.

The force of the floods destroyed nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek, causing significant damage to trails, utilities, facilities, and other infrastructure in the area.