California Governor Blasts Trump Accuses Him of ‘Wrong’ Wildfire Politics and ‘Threatening Firefighters’
Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly criticized President-elect Donald Trump for making the wildfires in Southern California a political issue. During an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Newsom responded to Trump’s accusations and comments about how the fires were handled.
Trump had blamed Newsom and other local leaders for worsening the fires, claiming that poor forest management and environmental policies, like protecting the delta smelt fish, were part of the problem. Newsom rejected these claims as misinformation and invited Trump to visit the affected areas to see the damage firsthand. He emphasized that during President Biden’s administration, California received immediate federal disaster assistance, including full financial support and constant communication. He hoped Trump would provide similar cooperation but doubted it, given his history of threats.
Newsom also addressed the issue of empty fire hydrants reported in LA County, acknowledging the severity of the situation. However, he pushed back against Trump’s threats to withhold federal support for emergency responses in California, calling it a pattern of behavior. Newsom pointed out that Trump has made similar threats to other states like Utah, Michigan, and Georgia, as well as Puerto Rico, using federal aid as leverage.
When asked if he believed Trump was threatening first responders, Newsom said it was clear from Trump’s statements. Trump had reportedly said he wouldn’t support California’s firefighting or emergency efforts unless they met his demands.
Newsom expressed frustration with Trump’s tactics but remained focused on recovery efforts for the state, calling for unity rather than division in tackling crises like these wildfires.
