Donald Trump is convinced that California Governor Gavin Newsom is solely to blame for the devastating fires sweeping the Los Angeles region.
The president-elect slammed Newsom for failing to sign a declaration to redirect water from California’s northern regions, claiming it could have averted the disaster.
“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social.
Trump’s allegations spotlight the conflict over federal and state water regulations limiting the amount of water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to protect fish species like the smelt. The Trump administration had declared in 2019 that increased water pumping wouldn’t harm the smelt, but the issue remains contentious. During the 2024 campaign, Trump shockingly threatened to withhold federal wildfire aid from the state unless Governor Newsom revised water policies, promising to provide the state with abundant water to benefit farmers.
“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 added in his rant. “Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA!”
The wildfires, which erupted Tuesday, have claimed two lives and destroyed over 1,000 structures. Even more terrifying, multiple water hydrants went down in the midst of the blaze, delaying the response. Almost 300,000 California customers were without power as of Wednesday morning, with at least 30,000 residents forced to flee their homes. Meanwhile, President Biden and Newsom have coordinated efforts to manage the crisis, including discussing new water regulations announced last month to balance the needs of farmers and environmental concerns.
Trump’s critique of Newsom reflects ongoing tension between state policies and federal priorities as California battles natural and political storms.
