“Trump approves ‘serious money ask’ to build Texas desalination plant”

“Trump approves ‘serious money ask’ to build Texas desalination plant

President Donald Trump said the federal government will help fund a saltwater desalination plant along the Texas Gulf Coast to provide relief to drought-stricken South Texas. Corpus Christi, the state’s eighth-largest city, is on pace to run out of water by spring 2027.

Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni told Chron Saturday morning that Rep. Michael Cloud and city leaders have been working with the White House for the past week. Zanoni credited Cloud with the progress that culminated Friday with Trump’s visit to Corpus Christi. After a speech to supporters, Trump told local station KIII 3NEWS that he supports using federal funds to build a desalination plant.

“You have a big permit in,” Trump said in the KIII interview. “You have a very big ask, I have to say. It’s a big ask. This is called a serious money ask. And I’m going to get that thing approved for you guys.”