New Delhi:
As thousands flee their homes in California due to wildfires, US President-elect Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Governor Gavin Newsom, saying “this is all his fault” and he must stop. Trump previously claimed that the governor's policies were responsible for the situation in some of the US's most prominent cities. The governor has hit back, saying people are on the run, and the president-elect's response is to politicize it.
One of the hardest hit areas is Los Angeles, home to Hollywood's top celebrities. At least five people have been killed and 1,500 buildings damaged as firefighters struggle to control the blaze. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said they don't have enough firefighters to handle the situation. “We're doing the best we can. But no, we don't have enough fire personnel in LA County between all the departments to handle this,” he said, according to an AFP report.
In a post on TruthSocial, Trump claimed that California's governor had refused to sign a water restoration declaration that would have allowed millions of gallons into California. Referring to Newsom as “Newscum,” he said: “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water recovery declaration presented to him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water from excess rain and snowmelt from the north to be delivered daily to many areas would have flowed. parts of California, including those currently burning in a near-apocalyptic manner.”
“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt by giving it less water (it didn't work!), but he didn't care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that. This incompetent governor lets nice, clean, fresh water flow TO CALIFORNIA! Plus he's to blame, no water for fire hydrants, no firefighting planes Trump added.
In a message later in the day, the president-elect said the governor should resign. “One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning to the ground. It's ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!” he said.
Returning to the president-elect's complaint, the California governor's office said the governor is focused on saving people rather than politics. “There is no such document as the water recovery statement – that is pure fiction. The governor is focused on keeping people safe, not playing politics, and ensuring firefighters have all the resources they need,” his office said in a post on X.
People literally flee. Children have lost their schools. Communities have lost their churches. Families have lost their homes. Some have even lost their lives.
And the president-elect's response is to politicize it.
We will continue to focus on what matters: saving lives and… pic.twitter.com/DPJLsKxHDW
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 9, 2025
The governor removed the president-elect from his bill. “People are literally fleeing. Children have lost their schools. Communities have lost their churches. Families have lost their homes. Some have even lost their lives. And the president-elect's response is to politicize this,” he said. “We will continue to focus on what matters: saving lives and extinguishing these unprecedented fires.”
Much of Los Angeles' water comes from the Colorado River, and agriculture accounts for the lion's share of water flowing into Southern California, AFP reports.
Outgoing President Joe Biden has canceled a trip to Italy to focus on the gunfight. “We will do anything and everything for as long as it takes to keep these fires under control,” he has said.
