A fierce political storm has followed the recent deadly floods in Texas, with prominent voices clashing over what, or who, should be held responsible. Critics from left-leaning circles blame years of climate denial and federal budget cuts, especially under former President Donald Trump, for worsening the disaster. As emergency crews continue search and rescue operations, public figures are weighing in with strong opinions.
Michael Bloomberg, former New York City mayor and past Democratic presidential hopeful, described the floods as a consequence of ignoring climate science. He argued that failing to recognize climate change puts lives—especially children—at risk. Bloomberg called the flooding not just a natural disaster, but a political failure at both state and federal levels.
Ben Jealous, a former Maryland gubernatorial candidate and Sierra Club executive, echoed this view. He described the moment as a “crossroads” where leaders must choose between denial and decisive climate action. Will Bunch, a columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer, added that more lives could have been saved if officials had embraced science and government preparedness.
Criticism also came from former Democratic Governor Jay Inslee, who accused leaders of ignoring clear climate signals. He warned that more flash floods could follow if climate inaction continues. Meanwhile, the group World Weather Attribution told Axios that it is so sure climate change played a role in the Texas floods that it won’t even conduct a study into the event.
On the other side, conservative voices pushed back. Steve Milloy, a senior fellow at the Energy and Environment Legal Institute, argued it was wrong to politicize a tragedy. He insisted flash floods are common in Texas and unrelated to emissions or global warming. He also defended the National Weather Service, suggesting the problem lies with the local warning systems.
Climate Central offered a more cautious take, saying it’s hard to directly connect specific rain events to climate change. Still, the group acknowledged the importance of understanding how warming trends may be contributing to extreme weather.
The White House responded sharply to claims blaming Trump’s policies. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson condemned the accusations as “shameful and disgusting.” Officials also criticized those who claimed Texas leaders were caught off guard, arguing they had long ignored warnings about climate risks.
As the floodwaters recede, the debate over who should take responsibility continues to rise.
