LOS ANGELES – On January 8th, President-elect Donald Trump criticized California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom for failing to contain the wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles. Trump accused the state government of prioritizing environmental policies over the safety of residents, turning the natural disaster into a political battleground.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump mocked Governor Newsom, calling him “incompetent” and alleging that the governor had blocked water supplies to Southern California to protect a threatened fish species. Trump claimed that Newsom’s actions had led to the current crisis, stating, “He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
This criticism is consistent with Trump’s history of blaming natural disasters on political opponents. In 2019, he accused San Francisco of environmental violations and criticized Newsom’s handling of the homeless population. In 2020, Trump blamed Newsom’s administration for not preventing forest fires.
As Southern California residents fled three separate blazes, President Joe Biden visited a fire station in the Los Angeles area for a briefing from state fire officials. Biden assured residents that the federal government would do everything possible to contain the fires and help them return to normalcy.
Trump, however, continued his attacks, calling Newsom “Gavin Newscum” and accusing him of refusing to sign a declaration that would have allowed more water to flow into Southern California. Newsom’s press office responded by stating that no such document existed and that the governor was focused on protecting people and ensuring firefighters had the necessary resources.
The ongoing debate over water allocation in California has a long history, with conflicts between environmental protection and agricultural needs. Trump’s proposed water diversion plan was opposed by environmentalists concerned about the impact on fish species like salmon and smelt. The Biden administration, in collaboration with Newsom, implemented a plan to balance water flow with efforts to protect fish.
As the wildfires continue to devastate the Los Angeles area, the political controversy adds another layer of complexity to the crisis. The international community watches closely as the region grapples with the dual challenges of natural disaster and political discord.