US President-elect Donald Trump again blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom for burning down one of the best and most beautiful parts of the the America and demanded for his resignation.
On the Truth Social, Trump said that it was all Newsom’s fault for turning the best and most beautiful parts of the US into ashes.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscom should resign. This is all his fault!!!” Trump said in a post.
Trump and Newsom have clashed bitterly in the past, including over fire prevention, environmental policies, climate change, green vehicles and immigration.
Earlier Trump criticised Newsom for not signing a water restoration declaration that would have allowed millions of gallons of water from excess rain and snow melt to flow into areas currently burning. “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,” Trump said. “Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
His comments came after fire hydrants across Los Angeles County ran dry during the overnight firefighting efforts, leaving emergency responders struggling to contain the flames. Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works explained that the demand on the municipal water system was far beyond what it could handle in this emergency.
Trump’s frustration stems from the severe impact of the wildfires, which have burned thousands of acres, destroyed homes, and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate. Many areas, including Malibu and Los Angeles, have been hit hard, with water shortages making it even more difficult for firefighters to battle the blazes.
The wildfires, which started on Tuesday, have now killed five people and destroyed more than 1,000 structures. Winds exceeding 100 miles per hour have helped spread the fire, causing new fronts to ignite. In the Los Angeles area, luxury homes and beachside properties have been reduced to ashes, while residents flee the advancing flames.
‘This guy wanted to politicise it’: Newsom
Responding to Trump’s criticism, Newsom expressed his frustration to CNN stating, “one can’t even respond” to such attacks. He highlighted the devastating impact, saying “People are literally fleeing, people have lost their lives, kids lost their schools, families completely torn asunder, churches burned down – this guy wanted to politicize it.”
The governor refrained from further comments, simply stating, “I have a lot of thoughts about what I want to say, and I won’t.”
Trump’s assertion about freshwater issues hampering the response appeared oversimplified, disregarding various complex factors involved.
Following a meeting with Republican senators on Thursday, Trump maintained his stance, telling reporters, “This is a true tragedy, and it’s a mistake of the governor. They don’t have any water. Millions and millions of gallons of water that they have, and they send it out into the Pacific.”
Water authorities clarified that despite hydrants in Pacific Palisades running dry early Wednesday, Southern California had adequate water resources to combat the fires. However, the primary challenge lay in delivering sufficient quantities to Pacific Palisades at the rate required by overwhelmed firefighters.
Trump’s remarks exemplified his tendency to introduce political elements into ongoing natural disasters. In response, Newsom’s spokesman Anthony York told CNN, “we’re focused on protecting lives and battling these blazes – not playing politics.”
