US President Donald Trump and California governor Gavin Newsom set aside their ongoing feud on Friday to discuss recovery efforts for the recent devastating wildfires in Southern California. They met face-to-face for the first time since the inauguration earlier this week and amid the wildfires that scorched thousands of acres, destroyed more than 10,000 structures, and claimed nearly 30 lives.
The two leaders met on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport as Trump arrived to survey the damage. Newsom, waiting to greet Trump as he exited Air Force One, extended a handshake, which Trump punctuated with a trademark arm tug.
“Thank you first for being here. It makes a great deal to all of us,” Newsom told Trump during the meeting. “We’re going to need your support, we’re going to need your help.”
Newsom also recalled Trump’s assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. “You were with California during COVID, I don’t forget that,” he added.
From feud to face-to-face
The encounter marked the first in-person interaction between Newsom and Trump since Trump’s inauguration on Monday. The meeting comes after weeks of sharp exchanges, with Trump repeatedly criticising Newsom and other Democratic leaders for the severity of wildfire damage in the state.
Earlier on January 8, Trump referred to the governor as “Gavin Newscum” in a social media post, accusing him of mismanagement and blaming California’s fire policies for the widespread destruction. “This is all his fault!!!” Trump wrote.
‘We’ll get it permanently fixed so it can’t happen again’
Despite these attacks, Trump struck a more cooperative tone during his visit. “I think you’re going to see some very good progress,” Trump said about the recovery efforts. “We want to get the problem fixed. It’s like you got hit by a bomb.”
However, he also reiterated his previous criticisms of California’s fire management, saying, “We’ll get it permanently fixed so it can’t happen again.”
