‘A True Disaster!’ Trump Attacks California Governor Gavin Newsom While Los Angeles Still Burns: ‘He is the Blame for This’
President-elect Donald Trump sparked controversy on Wednesday by blaming Governor Gavin Newsom for the catastrophic fires raging across Los Angeles, declaring, “He is the blame for this!”
The devastating fires, fueled by 100-mile-per-hour Santa Ana winds and exceptionally dry vegetation caused by a prolonged drought, have wreaked havoc on the Los Angeles metropolitan area. While firefighters continue to battle the infernos, Trump took to Truth Social to launch a political attack on Newsom, accusing him of policy failures that he claims contributed to the disaster.
In his post, Trump wrote:
“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 snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way. 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. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!”
While relief efforts continue, many have criticized Trump’s comments as both poorly timed and unfair. The fires began only a day before his post, leaving little time for government agencies to fully assess or respond to the unfolding crisis. Experts point out that while it is valid to analyze policies and emergency responses after such disasters, blaming specific actions or decisions in the middle of a crisis risks politicizing a tragedy when the focus should be on immediate relief and recovery.
Governor Newsom has not yet responded to Trump’s accusations, as he is presumably dedicating his efforts to managing the disaster. Many have called Trump’s remarks a distraction at a time when unity and cooperation are crucial to addressing the ongoing emergency.
