President-elect Donald Trump has blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom for the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles region, leading to a call for Newsom’s resignation.
The big picture: In a statement on Truth Social, Trump said, “One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. Its ashes and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”.
- Trump’s comments have ignited a political dispute over the wildfires that have tragically claimed at least five lives and continue to burn unabated in the region.
Zoom in: Trump specifically called out Newsom for not signing a declaration to allow additional water to be pumped through California to prevent the spread of the fires. He blamed regulations limiting water pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to protect a fish species called the smelt.
- Trump demanded that Newsom take action to ensure the flow of clean water into California, emphasizing the impact of the lack of water on firefighting efforts and the broader disaster situation in the state.
The other side: Responding to Trump’s criticism, Newsom expressed his frustration, highlighting the devastating consequences of the fires on Californians.
- “People are literally fleeing,” Newsom told The Hill. “People have lost their lives. Kids lost their schools, families completely torn asunder, churches burned down. This guy wanted to politicize it. I have a lot of thoughts, and I know what I wanna say. I won’t.”
Driving the news: The wildfires, including the Palisades fire, Eaton fire, and Hurst fire, have resulted in extensive property damage and forced the evacuation of over 100,000 residents.
- The blazes have destroyed hundreds of structures and continue to pose a severe threat to the affected communities.
- Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin reported significant damage from the Eaton fire, with hundreds of structures impacted. The Palisades fire has also left a trail of destruction, with over 1,000 structures burning.
