President Bush says the federal government should not dictate how New Orleans rebuilds from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
In an interview with NBC television's show Tuesday, Mr. Bush said he had told New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin that his administration will support the plan local officials develop.
The president has pledged massive U.S. government support to rebuild areas ravaged by Katrina, which destroyed tens of thousands of homes in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.
Mr. Bush went to New Orleans on Monday to get another update on the recovery effort. The trip marks his eighth visit to the region since the storm hit in late August.
The president's public approval ratings remain at an all-time low in part because of his administration's perceived slow response to the disaster.
Tuesday, Mr. Bush visited the construction site of a home being built by non-profit group, Habitat for Humanity, before heading to the reopening of an elementary school.
