MSNBC’s Yamiche Alcindor Criticized for Blaming Trump Amid Texas Flood Tragedy

MSNBC reporter Yamiche Alcindor is once again facing backlash for remarks made during a recent appearance on MSNBC, where she appeared to shift blame toward former President Donald Trump while discussing the devastating flash floods in Texas.

In a segment with host Katy Tur, Alcindor commented on Trump’s plan to visit Texas following the deadly flooding. Rather than focusing on the federal response or support for victims, Alcindor pivoted toward criticizing Trump for defending himself against media narratives that attempted to tie the tragedy to alleged budget cuts during his presidency.

“The president has said he may go to Texas on Friday, although the White House press secretary has made it clear those plans are not yet confirmed,” Alcindor stated. “The White House is also pushing back against the idea that the National Weather Service was under-resourced when this flood occurred.”

Alcindor noted that White House officials were strongly denying claims that staffing shortages at the National Weather Service (NWS) contributed to the severity of the disaster. She recounted speaking with a senior White House aide who called such criticisms “disgusting” and politically motivated.

“The administration believes it’s not only unfair but completely inaccurate to connect staffing levels at the NWS to the flood’s impact,” Alcindor said. “They’re emphasizing that this was a rare, extreme weather event—something that even the best-prepared agencies would have struggled to anticipate.”

Despite acknowledging that the NWS had sufficient staff and resources in the region, Alcindor continued to reference broader concerns raised in past reports about agency funding and support under the Trump administration. However, even her own sources admitted that no operational shortcomings had led to missed warnings in this specific case.

“We at NBC News have spoken to meteorologists and others involved who confirmed that, while there have been concerns over time about staffing at the NWS, the offices in Texas were staffed appropriately during this crisis,” she said.

Critics have pointed out the contradiction in Alcindor’s reporting—where she suggested potential underfunding might have played a role, only to later concede that staffing was not an issue. Many saw the segment as an attempt to politicize a natural disaster and deflect from the actual emergency response on the ground.

Commentators on social media blasted the exchange, accusing Alcindor and MSNBC of exploiting a tragedy to score political points. “People are grieving. Entire communities are under water. And their focus is whether Trump can be blamed for it all,” one viewer posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The White House itself maintained a defensive tone throughout the week, reiterating that Trump had authorized all necessary federal assistance and that agencies like FEMA and the NWS had been fully mobilized to support rescue and recovery operations.

Adding to the controversy was Alcindor’s past criticism of the Trump administration’s decision to allow persecuted White South African farmers to seek asylum in the U.S. That move, which Trump defended as a humanitarian gesture, ignited heated debates around race, immigration, and selective outrage in the media.

Alcindor expressed visible frustration during an earlier MSNBC broadcast after her network aired Trump’s comments defending the decision.

“They’re being killed,” Trump had said during a press conference. “We don’t want to see people murdered. The South African leadership is coming to see me soon, and this is an issue I plan to raise.”

He continued, “It’s a genocide that’s taking place, but the media refuses to cover it. It’s a terrible thing. These are farmers being targeted and killed because they’re white.”

“I don’t care who they are — their race, color, background — I care that innocent people are being slaughtered,” Trump added. “And I’ll always speak out when I see something like that happening.”

That clip, and Alcindor’s reaction to it, further amplified claims that some in the media were selectively framing events to portray Trump in a negative light — even when discussing matters of humanitarian concern.

Back in Texas, local officials have praised the response efforts, including federal aid, emergency services, and coordination with state agencies. As recovery continues, many in the region are focused on rebuilding their communities — not political finger-pointing.

Still, the national conversation continues to swirl around who’s to blame, what could have been done differently, and how media narratives shape public perception. For many, the flood itself was devastating — but the politicization that followed has only deepened divisions.