President-Elect Blames California’s Policies for Devastating Blazes
As massive wildfires swept through Los Angeles, destroying neighborhoods and displacing tens of thousands of residents, President-elect Donald Trump seized the moment to reignite his longstanding feud with California Governor Gavin Newsom. The incoming president laid the blame for the deadly fires, which have claimed at least five lives, squarely on Newsom and California’s environmental policies.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to accuse the governor and Vice President Kamala Harris of “gross incompetence and mismanagement.” In a flurry of posts, he argued that California’s environmental regulations, including water policies aimed at preserving wetlands and wildlife, were to blame for hydrants running dry during the crisis. “I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this,” Trump wrote, even calling for Newsom’s resignation.
This latest salvo is part of a broader political strategy targeting California, a liberal stronghold that overwhelmingly supported Harris in the last election. Trump has previously clashed with Newsom over issues ranging from wildfire prevention to climate change and immigration. Now, he is using the wildfires as a springboard to critique what he describes as “chaotic” governance in blue states.
In one post, Trump referred to the protection of the delta smelt, a small fish central to California’s water policy debates, as prioritizing “a worthless fish” over residents. Though experts have debunked such claims in the past, Trump’s remarks are likely to resonate with his supporters, adding fuel to a political narrative that paints liberal policies as self-defeating.
“This is not Government. I can’t wait till January 20th!” Trump wrote, signaling his eagerness to reshape federal policies as he prepares to take office.
While Trump’s remarks have sparked debate, legitimate questions remain about California’s and Los Angeles’ preparedness for such catastrophic fires. State and local officials, including Newsom, will likely face scrutiny over disaster response efforts once the immediate crisis subsides.
