Donald Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp use hurricane recovery to make first appearance together

EVANS, Ga. (AP) — After making up privately, Donald Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp used the aftermath of Hurricane Helene to put their détente on public display, with the former president praising a fellow Republican he blistered just months ago and promising to treat the state well if he returns to the White House.

Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and Kemp, a popular second-term governor, appeared outside Augusta to tout recovery efforts after Helene made landfall in Florida and wrought widespread damage as it moved inland through Georgia and other states.

”I want to thank President Trump for coming back to our state a second time … and keeping the national focus on our state as we recover,” Kemp said, speaking as Trump stood silently over his right shoulder, both of them surrounded by water, paper products, diapers and other relief supplies.

The appearance in the town of Evans involved none of the vitriol that has defined the two Republicans' relationship since November 2020, when Trump insisted falsely that he defeated Democrat Joe Biden and chided Kemp for refusing to help him overturn the result.

Kemp and Trump met privately before addressing reporters. Trump was accompanied on the trip by his top campaign advisers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who is his handpicked Republican National Committee co-chair.

Once in front of cameras, Trump said Kemp is doing a “fantastic job," and he extolled the storm response in Georgia. The former president seemingly contradicted his praise, however, by later repeating his false assertions that Biden's administration has been flat-footed and left affected states to suffer.

Earlier this week in Valdosta, Trump even claimed that Biden had not spoken to Kemp at all. In a separate appearance, Kemp confirmed that Biden called him personally and offered whatever assistance Georgia might need.

“I missed him and called him right back and he just said ‘Hey, what do you need?’ And I told him, you know, we’ve got what we need, we’ll work through the federal process,” Kemp said of Biden. “He offered if there are other things we need just to call him directly, which I appreciate that.”

In Evans on Friday, Kemp did not take questions from reporters, ensuring he would not have to contradict Trump while standing beside him. The governor left the pavilion where they spoke by the time Trump began taking questions and repeating his criticisms of Biden.

Kemp did, during his remarks, note that the federal government has approved all of his recommended disaster declarations for Georgia counties — the legal step required for federal reimbursement to cover the storm response. Kemp said he expected more counties will be added to the list.

After Trump departed, National Guard service members were seen dismantling the display of supplies that served as the backdrop for the governor and former president.

As recently as August, Trump used social media posts and an Atlanta rally to accuse Kemp of “fighting Unity and the Republican Party” and criticizing Georgia first lady Marty Kemp for saying she planned to write in her husband’s name on her presidential ballot. Kemp had been saying for months that he would support “the Republican ticket,” but without naming Trump specifically.

That spectacle raised concerns among Republicans in Georgia and nationally that GOP dissension would lead to a repeat of 2020, when Biden won the state by fewer than 12,000 votes out of 5 million cast.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and Trump's running mate JD Vance helped negotiate a detente, with Kemp finally stating in a cable news interview that he supported Trump's comeback bid and Trump, in turn, praising the governor on social media. Not long after, Vance and Kemp spoke at a Faith & Freedom Coalition gala in Georgia and met privately backstage.

During his speech at the dinner, Kemp did explicitly call for returning Trump to the White House. But he still spent most of his argument criticizing Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris rather than extolling Trump.

Marty Kemp, meanwhile, did not appear Friday with her husband and the former president.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp after speaking at a temporary relief shelter as he visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Evans, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump shakes hands with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp after speaking at a temporary relief shelter as he visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Evans, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at Augusta Regional Airport to visit areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives for a briefing at the Columbia County Emergency Management Agency as he visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Evans, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives for a briefing at the Columbia County Emergency Management Agency as he visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Evans, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp during a briefing at the Columbia County Emergency Management Agency as he visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Evans, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp during a briefing at the Columbia County Emergency Management Agency as he visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Evans, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp during a briefing at the Columbia County Emergency Management Agency as he visits areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Evans, Ga. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

PRAGUE (AP) — Paul Cotter had a goal and an assist in his Devils debut as New Jersey beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Friday in the NHL regular-season opener played in the Czech Republic capital.

After former NHL great Jaromir Jagr, who still plays in the Czech league, dropped a ceremonial puck, Stefan Noesen became the first scorer of the season 8:39 in to put New Jersey up. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic made it 2-0, and then Nico Hischier scored early into the second before Owen Power got the Sabres on the scoreboard midway through the third. Cotter made it 4-1 on an open net.

The teams' series of games on Friday and Saturday is part of the NHL global series. Two more international games will be played in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 1-2 when defending Stanley Cup champion Florida faces the Dallas Stars.

This is the 11th season the NHL has played in Europe as part of its efforts to grow the fan base in hockey-mad countries like the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland and others.

Devils: After failing to make the playoffs for the 10th time in 12 seasons, New Jersey had valuable contributions from newcomers. Coach Sheldon Keefe was hired in May after being fired by Toronto; Kovacevic was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, Cotter a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and goaltender Jacob Markstrom a trade with the Calgary Flames.

Sabres: Buffalo was unable to take advantage of four power-play opportunities.

Before the puck dropped, players and spectators observed 13 seconds of silence to honor Johnny Gaudreau. The Columbus Blue Jackets forward was killed along with his brother Matthew on Aug. 29 while bicycling in New Jersey.

Markstrom saved 30 shots in his New Jersey debut.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 19 saves for the Sabres.

The teams will complete their series in Prague on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Buffalo Sabres' Owen Power, left, celebrates with Buffalo Sabres' Tage Thompson after scoring his side's first goal during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

New Jersey Devils' Paul Cotter scores his side's fourth goal during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

New Jersey goaltender Devils' Jacob Markstrom watches the puck during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

New Jersey goaltender Devils' Jacob Markstrom watches the puck during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

New Jersey Devils' Johnathan Kovacevic, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

New Jersey Devils' Stefan Noesen, right, and Buffalo Sabres' goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen battle for the puck during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

New Jersey Devils' Stefan Noesen, centre, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

New Jersey Devils' Stefan Noesen celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Screens show portraits of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau during a moment of silence before the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Buffalo Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, left, battles for the puck with New Jersey Devils' Tomas Tatar, second from right, during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

New Jersey goaltender Devils' Jacob Markstrom watches the puck during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

New Jersey Devils' Stefan Noesen, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the NHL hockey game between Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils, in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)