Updated at 8 p.m. with more details from President Trump's trip to Dallas.

A president at war with much of his own party spent nearly four hours in Dallas on Wednesday. Adoring fans cheered him at Love Field, and 200 well-heeled donors rubbed elbows with him downtown.

But if Donald Trump was hoping for a respite from the venomous atmosphere in Washington, his day trip to Dallas offered little. Catcalls from hundreds of protesters filtered into the swank fund-raiser. "Go home, Cheeto!" they yelled, holding signs that read "Liar liar" and "shame."

A day earlier, two Republican senators questioned his fitness for office, echoing criticism about a lack of civility and truthfulness from former presidents and others. Before boarding Marine One on his way to Dallas, Trump paused on the South Lawn to defend himself. He complained about "fake stories" that paint him in a negative light, with news media routinely reporting "a lot of bad things" that aren't true about him.

"I went to an Ivy League college," said Trump, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. "I was a nice student. I did very well. I'm a very intelligent person. ... I think the press creates a different image of Donald Trump than the real person."

Wherever the blame lies, Trump's national approval ratings are below 40 percent. They're somewhat higher in reliably Republican Texas, if not in Dallas proper, a Democrats' oasis.

At back-to-back fund-raising events at the Belo Mansion, Trump raised $4 million from 200 donors, according to a GOP official. The funds go to his own 2020 reelection campaign account and to the Republican Party. Donors paid $2,700 to $100,000, with the biggest donors getting the most face time.

Across Ross Avenue from the mansion, protesters gathered with signs expressing displeasure: "SHAME" and "Save U.S. - Impeach." One sign in neon pink was too vulgar to repeat. Another read, "Trump that boy don't act right."

Hurricane recovery briefing

The visit started with a briefing on Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. Trump's plane touched down shortly after 3 p.m. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and others provided a briefing before he left Love Field.

The president lauded recovery efforts and Texas officials praised him for the federal response.

Trump sang the praises of a type of drywall called Greenboard that resists water damage, suggesting that Houston-area homes should use it on the ground floor in the future. He also spoke vaguely of a multi-billion dollar flood protection plan to avert such disasters, apparently referring to the "Ike Dike" or some other massive public works project to ward off coastal flooding; it's unclear how that would have averted problems from Harvey's 50-inch rainfall.

"Let's take a look at the costs and then see if it's possible to do, because that would save a lot of money into the future, and it would also put a lot of people to work," he said.

The chants resume, as do the drums at today's demonstration. 'No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA' — Marc Ramirez (@typewriterninja) October 25, 2017

The president left town just after sunset. The White House did little to publicize the visit. Aides didn't announce the trip until late Tuesday, though word had spread weeks ago through donors, and the Trump campaign ran a contest for donors offering dinner with the president.

1 / 23President Donald Trump holds up a supporter's sign for the media while arriving at Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump participated in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and gave remarks at a reception.(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 2 / 23President Donald Trump arrives at Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump will participate in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and give remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 3 / 23President Donald Trump and Texas governor Greg Abbott greet supporters after Trump arrived at Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump will participate in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and give remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 4 / 23President Donald Trump greets supporters after arriving at Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump will participate in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and give remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 5 / 23President Donald Trump greets supporters after arriving at Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump will participate in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and give remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 6 / 23Texas governor Greg Abbott speaks while President Donald Trump watches on as the President and officials discuss hurricane response at Signature Flight Support near Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump participated in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and give remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 7 / 23United States President Donald Trump shakes hands with Texas governor Greg Abbott with Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick watching on as the President and officials discuss hurricane response at Dalfort Fueling near Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump will participate in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and give remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 8 / 23A supporters of President Donald Trump holds onto a printout of the President from election night while waiting for the arrival of Trump before a visit to Dallas while at Dalfort Fueling near Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump will participate in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and give remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 9 / 23Protester Gale McCray (right) crosses Ross Avenue on the way to join other protesters near the Belo Mansion where President Donald Trump participates in a roundtable with RNC supporters on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Dallas. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News)(Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer) 10 / 23Protesters Olga Pope (left), Justin Culpepper (center) and Judy Clay hold up signs near the Belo Mansion where President Donald Trump participates in a roundtable with RNC supporters on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Dallas. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News)(Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer) 11 / 23President Donald Trump waves to the crowd as he leaves the Belo Mansion after participating in a roundtable with RNC supporters on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Dallas. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News)(Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer) 12 / 23People wait to enter the Belo Mansion where President Donald Trump participates in a roundtable with RNC supporters on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Dallas. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News)(Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer) 13 / 23Supporters of President Donald Trump wait for the arrival of Trump before his visit to Dallas while at Signature Flight Support near Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump participated in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and gave remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 14 / 23Protesters along Ross Avenue in Dallas as President Donald Trump's motorcade made its way through the city, Oct. 25, 2017. After a briefing on hurricane recovery efforts, Trump raised campaign funds at Belo Mansion. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)(TOM BRENNER / NYT) 15 / 23Protesters along Ross Avenue as viewed from the motorcade of President Donald Trump as he visits the Belo mansion for an event in downtown Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump participated in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and gave remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 16 / 23Conservative and Trump supporter Nancy Andison (right) talks with protester Olga Pope near the Belo Mansion where President Donald Trump participates in a roundtable with RNC supporters on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Dallas. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News)(Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer) 17 / 23Cherri Coiner, of Amarillo, Texas, and Ken Summers, of Lubbock, Texas wait for the arrival of President Donald Trump before Trump's visit to Dallas while at Dalfort Fueling near Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump will participate in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and give remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 18 / 23Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick takes a photograph with supporters while waiting for President Donald Trump to arrive before Trump's visit to Dallas while at Signature Flight Support near Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump participated in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and gave remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 19 / 23United States President Donald Trump shakes hands with Texas governor Greg Abbott with Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick watching on as the President and officials discuss hurricane response at Dalfort Fueling near Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump will participate in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and give remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 20 / 23Supporters wait for President Donald Trump to arrive before Trump's visit to Dallas while at Signature Flight Support near Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump participated in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and gave remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 21 / 23Joseph Killian, of Bedford, Texas, eats popcorn while waiting for President Donald Trump to arrive before Trump's visit to Dallas while at Signature Flight Support near Love Field in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump participated in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and gave remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 22 / 23President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before departing Love Field after a visit that included a stop at the Belo Mansion and a hurricane recovery briefing in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump participated in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and gave remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer) 23 / 23With the skyline of downtown Dallas in the background, President Donald Trump departs on Air Force One from Love Field after a visit that included a stop at the Belo Mansion and a hurricane recovery briefing in Dallas Wednesday October 25, 2017. President Trump participated in a hurricane recovery briefing, a Republican National Committee roundtable and gave remarks at a reception. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)(Andy Jacobsohn / Staff Photographer)

On Tuesday, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, a conservative Republican who had criticized Trump before, used a speech announcing he wouldn't run for another term to denounce the president and try to shame GOP colleagues into joining him.

"It is time for our complicity and our accommodation of the unacceptable to end," he said. "We must stop pretending that the degradation of our politics and the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal."

Hours earlier, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker of Tennessee, who also is retiring, reiterated his own warning that Trump is mentally unstable, and leading the United States toward perilous confrontations, including a nuclear staredown with North Korea.

This came days after two former presidents— Dallas' own George W. Bush, a fellow Republican, and Trump's predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama — issued their own warnings about the coarseness and erratic judgment of the current president.

Trump backers also show up

At Love Field, a hundred or so enthused backers awaited his arrival, and they had sharp words for Trump's critics.

David Burraston, 38, a Fort Worth resident, called the attacks unfair. The senators may view Trump as unfit but it's not up to them, he said.

Do not underestimate the UNITY within the Republican Party! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2017

"It feels like it's a trend to dump on Trump," he said. "For people that like President Trump, like myself, it's refreshing that he speaks openly ... The people decided that he's fit to be president, and the people decided he's fit to make those big decisions. We elected him. We get to decide."

Patty Tellez, 63, a retired parole officer who lives in Trophy Club, also was waiting at the tarmac. She also defended the president against the growing chorus of criticism.

"The country needed him. He's what the American people wanted. We needed a change," she said, echoing the view that Trump's critics should defer to the will of the public. "No matter what party you're in, you're going to have people who don't like him. But the American people have spoken."