As Southern California battles devastating wildfires, former President Donald Trump slammed Governor Gavin Newsom, blaming his administration for the ongoing crisis.
Current situation
The ongoing wildfires across Los Angeles have wreaked havoc on the city, claiming at least 11 lives and destroying over 12,000 homes and other structures.
An estimated 180,000 residents remain under evacuation orders, with another 166,800 facing warnings as firefighters struggle to control six major blazes consuming approximately 56 square miles (145 square kilometers) of the region.
The fires have obliterated a range of buildings, including homes, schools, libraries, religious institutions, small businesses, and cherished local landmarks.
Trump, who has long been critical of California’s wildfire prevention strategies, expressed his frustration in a post on Truth Social.
He specifically blamed Governor Newsom for failing to adopt measures that could have mitigated the disaster, accusing him of prioritizing environmental interests over the well-being of Californians.
“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snowmelt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump wrote.
Trump criticized Newsom’s decision to protect the delta smelt, a small fish native to California waterways, by restricting water flow. “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,” he added.
California’s water management policies have been a contentious topic for years. Trump accused Newsom of failing to replenish the state’s aquifers during periods of heavy rainfall and snowmelt, leaving the state vulnerable during crises.
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He also reiterated his previous calls for controlled burns to manage forest underbrush, a practice he claims could have prevented such catastrophic fires.
Trump’s visit to California
During his presidency, Trump issued a rule aimed at increasing water flow to California and repeatedly urged state leaders to prioritize forest floor maintenance.
However, his proposals faced legal and political resistance, with California suing the Trump administration over alleged violations of the state’s water rights.
In his post, Trump declared the situation a “true disaster,” citing the lack of water for fire hydrants and firefighting resources as evidence of poor governance. “I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is to blame for this,” Trump wrote, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address the crisis.