Trump Urges California Governor to Resign as Los Angeles Wildfires Rage
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US President-elect Donald Trump has cast blame on California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) for the raging wildfires in the Los Angeles region, most recently calling for him to resign.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” Trump posted to Truth Social. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”
The president-elect’s criticism of Newsom has sparked a political battle over the fires that have killed at least five people and remain zero percent contained.
In another post Thursday morning, Trump criticized Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
“Fire is spreading rapidly for 3 days — ZERO CONTAINMENT. Nobody has ever seen such failed numbers before! Gross incompetence by Gavin Newscum and Karen Bass…And Biden’s FEMA has no money — all wasted on the Green New Scam! L.A. Is a total wipeout!!!” Trump posted.
FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has authorized the use of federal funds to assist with combating the California fires. FEMA said in a release that its Fire Management Assistance Grant can provide funding for up to 75 percent of firefighting costs, including field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization activities for fighting the ongoing fires, The Hill reported.
Trump said earlier Wednesday that Newsom should have signed a declaration to pump additional water through California to avert the situation, casting blame on the Democratic governor. Currently, regulations limit the amount of water that can be pumped from the nearby Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in order to protect a fish called the smelt.
“Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this,” he posted online. “On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!”
During his first administration, Trump issued a declaration that pumping more water from the Delta to supply farms would not hurt the fish. The incoming commander in chief made a similar argument Wednesday, claiming the smelt were “essentially worthless.”
The president-elect later said online Thursday that Newsom should head to northern California to open the water main and let water flow into his “dry, starving, burning” state. He slammed Newsom as an “incompetent governor” and told him it should be done now, without any excuses.
At least 100,000 residents are under evacuation orders, and rows of homes have been burnt to the ground as devastating winds engulfed the area in flames.
