California Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly accused Elon Musk of spreading misinformation regarding water shortages during Los Angeles’ deadly wildfires. Newsom shared a video on X (formerly Twitter), featuring a firefighter refuting Musk’s claims about water availability during the crisis.
Musk recently blamed “bad governance” for a supposed water shortage on X, but Newsom’s shared clip challenges that narrative.
Exactly. Climate change risk is real, just much slower than alarmists claim.
The immense loss of homes in LA is primarily due to:
1. Nonsensical overregulation that prevented creating fire breaks and doing brush clearing.
2. Bad governance at the state and local level that… https://t.co/KByGVCjQ8N
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 9, 2025
Firefighters Contradict Musk’s Statements
In the video, Elon Musk is seen speaking with a firefighter, asking whether water availability was an issue during the fires. The firefighter clarified, “There was plenty of water, but tackling such large fires requires huge flow rates. That’s why mobile hydrants were brought in.”
When Musk questioned water availability in Malibu and the Pacific Palisades, the firefighter explained that the system struggled due to the immense volume of water required to combat the blaze.
Newsom captioned the video, “@ElonMusk exposed by firefighters for his own lies.”
Musk’s Visit and Cybertruck Donation
Amid the devastation, Elon Musk visited the Pacific Palisades on January 12, donating Cybertrucks equipped with Starlink to serve as power hubs and internet providers for affected areas.
Despite his efforts, Musk’s statements about water shortages have drawn criticism from Newsom and others, who argue that the focus should remain on addressing the fires rather than assigning blame.
Newsom Faces Criticism Amid Tragedy
While calling out Musk, Newsom himself has faced backlash over his handling of the wildfire crisis. President-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social, calling for Newsom’s resignation. Trump stated, “One of the most beautiful parts of the U.S. is burning down. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!”
.@ElonMusk exposed by firefighters for his own lies. pic.twitter.com/3Q8xFZaQ3S
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 13, 2025
Newsom has reported deploying over 7,500 firefighting personnel to work alongside local and federal partners to control the fires. However, the death toll has climbed to 24, with 16 fatalities from the Eaton Fire and 8 from the Palisades Fire.
A Nation Grapples With Wildfire Devastation
As wildfires continue to ravage California, the focus remains on extinguishing the blazes, supporting affected communities, and addressing the broader issues of climate change and disaster preparedness.
