California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom praised President Joe Biden for quickly responding to his request for FMAG (Fire Management Assistance Grants) due to the devastating Palisades Fire, and got a dig in at Donald Trump in the process.
Authorities confirmed Wednesday morning that an estimated 1,000 structures, including many homes, have been destroyed by a Santa Ana wind-driven wildfire in Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Evacuations were ordered for the entire Pacific Palisades area extending to the Pacific Ocean, with additional warnings issued for parts of Santa Monica and Calabasas. The evacuation orders affected tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the region.
Trump placed the blame for the "apocalyptic" wildfires on Newsom and even suggested Newsom cares too much for the environment, writing the following in a post on Truth Social:
"Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way."
"He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California. 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. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!"
You can see his post below.
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
Newsom declared a state of emergency that was secured through approval from the Federal Emergency Management Assistant Grant and will permit "local, state, and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75 percent reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs."
Biden himself has been in contact with Newsom and been briefed on the disaster, noting that he has "offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire" and that his administration "will do everything it can to support the response."
Newsom then thanked Biden during a press conference—though he also threw some shade at Trump for his remarks, saying that with Biden there was no need for "kissing of the feet" to get help:
"The President of the United States happens to be in town. It didn't take more than a text message to get the FMAG approved, which means we're getting reimbursed for the vast majority of these costs."
"No politics, no hand-wringing, no kissing of the feet. President of the United States said 'Yes, what else do you need? The emergency proclamation is being drafted as we speak.'"
"I just want to thank the president because that's something I don't take for granted and something we should not take for granted at this moment in American history, so thank you, President Biden, as well."
You can hear Newsom's remarks in the video below.
Many appreciated Newsom's response and Biden's swift action—and criticized Trump's statements themselves.
Newsom and Trump have clashed many times before—and we can expect more of that once Trump takes the oath of office again.
Trump previously commented on wildfires and forest fires in Newsom's state and claimed "forest management is so poor" even though "billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests." Trump threatened to withhold emergency funding, demanding that Newsom "remedy" the matter.
Trump's criticisms have sparked sharp backlash from opponents, who accuse him of politicizing natural disasters that devastate communities and claim lives. Newsom and other Democrats have consistently argued that California’s wildfires are exacerbated by climate change and global warming.
Newsom’s office has countered forcefully, highlighting the governor’s significant investments in fire prevention and management projects, including $225.8 million allocated to streamline programs focused on “reducing fuels in the forest, increasing forest health, and defensible space around homes.”
@jaketapoer/Bluesky
@BillAckman/Twitter