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President-elect Trump has blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for the forest fires in the Los Angeles region, recently calling for his resignation.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning to the ground,” Trump posted at Truth Social Wednesday evening. “It’s ash, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”
The president-elect’s criticism of Newsom has it sparked a political battle about the fires that have killed at least five people and are far from being contained.
Trump said Wednesday before that Newsom should have signed a statement to pump additional water into California to avoid the situation, blaming the Democratic governor. Regulations currently limit the amount of water that can be pumped from the nearby Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in order to protect a fish called smelt.
“Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allows beautiful, clean, fresh water to flow to CALIFORNIA! He is to blame for this,” she posted online. “Also, no water for fire hydrants, no fire fighting planes. A real disaster!”
During his first administration, the president-elect issued a statement that pumping more water from the Delta to supply farms would not harm the fish. The incoming commander-in-chief made a similar argument Wednesday, claiming the scent was “essentially worthless.”
Newsom he went after Trump for his recent comments in an interview on Wednesday.
“People are literally running away,” he said. “People have lost their lives. Children lost their schools, families were completely torn apart, churches burned.”
“This guy wanted to politicize it,” the California leader continued, pointing to Trump. “I have many thoughts and I know what I want to say. I will not.”
As of early Thursday morning, the Palisades fire, which is west of Los Angeles, had burned about 18 square miles. The Eaton fire north of Pasadena has burned about 16.5 square miles, and the Hurst fire in the San Fernando Valley has burned nearly 1 square mile. Officials said Wednesday evening that a new fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills. The Associated Press reported.
At least 100,000 residents are under evacuation orders and houses are on the line they have been burned to the ground as devastating winds engulfed the area in flames.
In Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustin said between 200 and 500 structures have been damaged or destroyed by the Eaton fire. At least 1,000 structures have burned in the Palisades fire, according to the AP.
Officials say it may be from California the worst disaster in history.
The Hill has reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.
