Trump Blames Newsom as LA Wildfires Devastate Communities \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ As historic wildfires devastate Los Angeles, President-elect Donald Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom’s management while offering misleading claims about water policies and fire response. The blazes, fueled by climate change and extreme winds, have displaced over 180,000 residents. Meanwhile, Trump’s contentious remarks and threats to withhold federal aid have drawn backlash from state leaders amid the crisis.
LA Wildfires and Political Turmoil: Quick Looks
- Scale of Disaster: Fires consume 45 square miles, displacing 180,000 people.
- Trump vs. Newsom: Trump blames Newsom’s policies; Newsom criticizes Trump’s politicization.
- Firefighting Challenges: Dry hydrants and grounded aircraft worsen crisis.
- Climate Impact: Prolonged drought and extreme winds exacerbate wildfire conditions.
- Federal Aid: Biden issues disaster declaration; Trump’s role raises concerns.
- Economic Concerns: Trump cites destruction of Beverly Hills homes as a financial blow to California.
Deep Look
Catastrophic LA Wildfires Expose Political, Environmental Divides
Los Angeles faces unprecedented destruction as cataclysmic wildfires ravage communities, forcing more than 180,000 residents to evacuate and destroying 45 square miles of land, including parts of Pacific Palisades in what is now the city’s most destructive fire. As firefighters battle the blazes, political tensions between President-elect Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom have reignited, with Trump using the crisis to criticize Newsom’s management while sidestepping the environmental factors fueling these disasters.
Trump’s Criticism and Misleading Claims
Trump has lashed out at Governor Newsom, derisively nicknaming him and demanding his resignation over alleged failures in forest and water management. On social media, Trump oversimplified the crisis by urging Newsom to “open up the water main,” falsely blaming California’s fish conservation efforts for dry hydrants in Los Angeles.
Trump attempted to tie the issue to a long-standing debate over balancing water allocation between agriculture and environmental preservation, specifically regarding the endangered Delta smelt. However, experts clarified that this debate is irrelevant to the immediate crisis. Los Angeles’s dry hydrants were caused by extreme demand on municipal water systems during unprecedented wildfire conditions.
Janisse Quiñones, head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, explained that hydrants are designed for localized fires, not massive urban blazes consuming entire neighborhoods. The ferocity of the fires required four times the usual water supply, straining reservoirs and delaying refills. Compounding the problem, hurricane-force Santa Ana winds grounded firefighting aircraft, further overwhelming resources.
Newsom’s Response: “This Guy Wants to Politicize It”
Governor Newsom, standing amidst a burning subdivision, responded to Trump’s criticisms with restrained frustration. “People are literally fleeing. People have lost their lives. Kids lost their schools. Families completely torn asunder,” Newsom said. “And this guy wants to politicize it.”
Newsom’s remarks reflected a broader frustration among California leaders, who have consistently clashed with Trump over climate policies and disaster response. While Newsom emphasized the human toll of the crisis, Trump framed the destruction in terms of economic impact, warning of tax base losses if wealthy homeowners flee fire-ravaged areas like Beverly Hills.
Federal Aid in Question
President Joe Biden, visiting California for an environmental event before the fires escalated, issued a major disaster declaration, unlocking immediate federal funds to assist recovery efforts. However, additional federal aid will be overseen by Trump, who has a history of withholding support from political opponents.
In September, Trump threatened to withhold wildfire funding, stating at a press conference, “We won’t give him money to put out all his fires. And if we don’t give him the money to put out his fires, he’s got problems.”
These threats have heightened concerns among state officials, as the scope of the current disaster requires sustained federal assistance.
Wildfires and the Climate Crisis
While Trump focuses on assigning blame, experts point to climate change as a driving force behind California’s increasingly severe wildfire seasons. Rising temperatures, prolonged drought, and extreme winds have extended the duration and intensity of fires across the state.
Firefighters are accustomed to battling the Santa Ana winds, which typically blow during the fall and winter. However, this year’s hurricane-force gusts, reaching speeds rarely seen, overwhelmed response efforts. Los Angeles Fire Capt. Adam VanGerpen described the conditions as unprecedented in his 25 years of service.
Despite mounting evidence of climate change’s role, Trump has dismissed these concerns, instead advocating for expanded fossil fuel production and reductions in renewable energy initiatives.
Economic and Political Implications
The fires have devastated both lives and property, particularly in affluent areas like Beverly Hills. Trump noted the destruction of high-value homes, warning of potential financial repercussions for California’s tax revenue.
Politically, Trump’s recent gains in California—improving his vote share by 4.68 percentage points in Los Angeles and surrounding areas in 2024—have emboldened his clashes with Democratic leaders like Newsom. However, his remarks during this crisis may test his growing support in the state.
The Road Ahead
As Los Angeles grapples with the immediate challenges of containment and recovery, the wildfires underscore broader issues of governance, climate resilience, and political division. The Biden administration’s disaster declaration provides some relief, but Trump’s history of politicizing aid raises uncertainty about long-term support.
For Californians on the frontlines, the fires are a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address climate change, infrastructure demands, and the human toll of natural disasters.
Trump Blames Newsom
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