President Donald Trump on Saturday thanked the U.S. Coast for saving nearly 11,000 lives during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey by "going into winds that the media would not go into.

"They will not go into those winds," the president told Coast Guard, Army and other first-responders at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston before leaving for Louisiana on Air Force One. "Unless it's a really good story, in which case they will."

More than 72,000 people have been saved from the devastation caused by Harvey, according to various news reports.

"I want to congratulate the Coast Guard for what you have done," Trump told members at Ellington Field.

"Incredible. I want to congratulate you guys, the Army guys," he added. "It's brutal what's been up there.

"But you have done so much for the services — and the whole world is watching. The whole world is watching.

"Thank you, everybody," the president said. "You have done so much for the prestige of the services."