WASHINGTON: President-elect Donald Trump has accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of failing to address the wildfires devastating parts of Los Angeles. Trump criticized Newsom’s water management policies, claiming they worsened the crisis, and slammed the state’s emergency preparedness.
Trump’s Accusations Against Newsom
In a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged that Governor Newsom refused to sign a water restoration declaration that could have allowed surplus water from rain and snowmelt to flow into California.
“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump wrote.
He further accused Newsom of prioritizing a fish species, the smelt, over the needs of Californians:
“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water, but didn’t care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
Trump also criticized the lack of water for firefighting efforts and inadequate resources, calling the situation a “true disaster.”
The Wildfire Crisis:
The wildfires, which began on Tuesday, have already burned thousands of acres, destroyed hundreds of structures, and caused mass evacuations:
- Palisades Fire: Over 5,000 acres burned in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, destroying an estimated 1,000 structures.
- Eaton Fire: Spread across Altadena, burning 2,227 acres with no containment.
- Hurst Fire: Northeast of San Fernando, burning at least 500 acres.
Officials confirmed at least two fatalities and multiple injuries in the Eaton Fire, while emergency services struggle with resource shortages.
Emergency Response and Power Outages
According to poweroutage.us, over 245,000 customers in Los Angeles County were without electricity as of Wednesday morning. Local officials urged residents to evacuate promptly to ensure safety and assist emergency responders.
LAPD Chief James McDonnell admitted the county was unprepared for such a widespread disaster:
“The LA County Fire Department was prepared for one or two major brush fires, but not four — especially given the sustained winds and low humidities.”
Governor Newsom’s Response:
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to address the crisis and visited the affected areas to meet with fire officials. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the windstorm and urged residents to follow safety instructions:
“This is a highly dangerous windstorm creating extreme fire risk. We’re not out of the woods yet. Our deepest thanks go to our expert firefighters and first responders who quickly jumped into action.”
Newsom’s declaration aims to provide additional resources to impacted communities, but Trump’s criticism continues to overshadow the response efforts.
