US President Donald Trump is set to visit Los Angeles on Friday to survey wildfire damage, continuing his long-standing dispute with California Governor Gavin Newsom over disaster management and federal aid policies.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump criticised California’s water policies, accusing the state of prioritizing environmental protections for species like the delta smelt over water availability for urban areas and agriculture.
“I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water flow down,” Trump told Fox News, referencing his frequent claim that the state mismanages its resources.
California officials, including Ashley Overhouse from Defenders of Wildlife, have refuted Trump’s claims.
According to ABC News, Overhouse said that protections for the delta smelt account for only about 1.2% of additional water outflow and have no direct connection to the availability of water for firefighting.
Recent hydrant failures during fires in Pacific Palisades, for instance, were due to overuse and maintenance at a local reservoir, not water mismanagement at the state level. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has enough reserves to meet approximately three years of demand.
Federal vs state water policy
California’s water supply is split between local sources, state-managed projects, and the federally operated Central Valley Project. Trump has directed federal agencies to reroute more water from the north to southern agricultural and urban areas. Critics argue that this could harm endangered species and disrupt the environmental balance in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
California Governor Newsom has previously filed lawsuits against such federal actions, citing threats to wildlife populations and long-term sustainability.
Trump’s visit to California comes amid broader efforts to reshape disaster aid and federal agencies like FEMA. In the same Fox News interview, Trump expressed scepticism about federal involvement in disaster relief, suggesting reforms to increase state responsibility.
The visit is also part of a wider strategy during his second term, as Trump seeks to rally support for his “America First” agenda.
