Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) said that “this is not the time” to criticize President Donald Trump for choosing to visit Texas on Tuesday, while the southeastern part of the state continues to be battered by Tropical Storm Harvey. He spoke during an interview Monday on “The Laura Ingraham Show.”

Trump has shown his hands-on approach in dealing with the first natural disaster to occur on his watch as Harvey continues to ravage Houston and the rest of southeastern Texas. Although Trump earned high praise from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for his aid and support, the president’s announcement that he would visit Texas on Tuesday earned him criticism from Democrats and pundits in the mainstream media.

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Ingraham asked Patrick whether it’s “disruptive” to Texas’ recovery efforts for Trump to visit on Tuesday, the lieutenant governor said it’s “never disruptive to have a president come to your area” and offer his support in person.

“Obviously, you know, when the president comes, he comes with a team,” Patrick said. “But I will say this, and I’d say it’s down to politics in all of this. But for anyone to criticize the president or anyone else, this is not the time. First of all, he has really been on top of this with Gov. Abbott, I can tell you.”

“The president has approached this as a businessman and gone into action. Gov. Abbott has been in control,” he added. “We’re doing everything we can. So when the president comes, the president comes.”

Noting that it was a shame that Trump’s critics are politicizing the hurricane turned tropical storm, Patrick urged Americans to put their differences behind them and unite in supporting Texas and its recovery.

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“But I just see people coming together as one at a time in this nation where we are so divided — maybe the most divided in my lifetime,” Patrick said. “There are no Republicans and Democrats in Texas right now. There are no liberals and conservatives and moderates. And there’s no black, white or brown.”

In the aftermath of Harvey, he said, Texas will engage in a three-phase plan.

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“It’s rescue, it’s recovery, and it’s rebuilding,” said Patrick. “We’ve had more rain, Laura, since Friday in the greater Houston area and pretty much along the whole Gulf Coast, than we’ve had in a whole year. We’ve had as much rain dumped on us as a whole year.”

“This is going to be a long, tough time. But we will get through it,” he added. “Texas is strong, and we are one.”

(photo credit, homepage image: Gage Skidmore)