Politics

As California Wildfires Spread, Trump Targets Democratic Officials With False Claims

Wesam Abo MarqWesam Abo Marq
date
13th January 2025
As California Wildfires Spread, Trump Targets Democratic Officials With False Claims
Six wildfires continue to rage around Los Angeles

As wildfires sweep through Southern California, President-elect Donald Trump criticized state leaders and demanded the resignation of California Governor Gavin Newsom in multiple Truth Social posts this week. Trump claimed that city officials failed to properly prepare for such disasters, intensifying criticism of California Democrats over their management of wildfires.

Wildfire Rages Around Los Angeles, Killing 11

Six wildfires continue to rage around Los Angeles, prompting authorities to declare a local health emergency due to hazardous air quality as ash and smoke blanket the region.

The fires have killed at least 11 people and destroyed more than 10,000 homes and structures. Authorities expanded evacuation orders near the Palisades Fire and arrested at least 22 individuals in Los Angeles County, including suspected looters.

Officials defended their preparations for the wildfire, citing the mobilization of resources from across the state. However, concerns are growing as forecasts predict stronger winds, heightening fears that the blazes could spread further.

Trump Says Biden Leaves ‘No Money in FEMA’

On Wednesday, Donald Trump claimed on social media that President Joe Biden is leaving him “no money in FEMA.” He criticized the current administration, alleging that it failed to maintain sufficient funds in the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund faced significant depletion last October after Hurricane Helene and a series of major disasters.

However, President Biden signed a bill in December that injected $29 billion into the fund. As of Wednesday, FEMA told CNN that the Disaster Relief Fund held approximately $27 billion.

Trump Says Biden Leaves ‘No Money in FEMA’
A screenshot from Appropriations’s press release

In response, the White House stated that FEMA approved Fire Management Assistance Grants to reimburse California for firefighting expenses.

Biden-Harris Administration supporting robust response efforts to California wildfires
A screenshot of The White House’s briefing

Newsom Refutes Trump’s Claim About a ‘Water Restoration Declaration’

Donald Trump accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of refusing to sign a ‘water restoration declaration’ that he claimed would have redirected millions of gallons of water from excess rain and snowmelt to areas now devastated by wildfires.

Newsom Refutes Trump’s Claim About a ‘Water Restoration Declaration’
A screenshot of The New York Times’ article

Trump alleged in a social media post that Newsom prioritized protecting a small fish, the delta smelt, over the needs of residents.

Newsom's office dismissed the claim as “pure fiction,” asserting that no such document exists.

Water policy experts also refuted Trump's claim. Jeffrey Mount, a senior fellow at the Water Policy Center with the Public Policy Institute of California, stated on Wednesday, “There was no ‘water restoration declaration’ for him to sign.”

Similarly, Brent Haddad, an environmental studies professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, confirmed that such a declaration does not exist.

Trump Alleges ‘There Is No Water in the Fire Hydrants’

Trump also claimed Newsom’s decision left fire hydrants and firefighting planes without water, adding, “Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA!”

Water policy expert Jeffrey Mount dismissed Trump’s statements, calling them baseless. He explained, “The debate related to water in the northern Delta has nothing to do with the fires in Southern California.”

Mount clarified that while efforts to protect fish species like the delta smelt, salmon, and steelhead trout occasionally limit water transfers from Northern California, they have no impact on water availability for firefighting.

Although Southern California faces drought conditions, nearly all reservoirs are above the historic average for this time of year. However, the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117-million-gallon water resource near the Pacific Palisades, which was empty and under maintenance when the wildfire began, might have slightly boosted water supplies if operational.

There Is No Water in the Fire Hydrants
A screenshot of Los Angeles Times’ article

Officials from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power stated that the reservoir's closure may have impacted water supplies but emphasized that the overall effect remains uncertain.

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This Video Shows Individuals Trapped in a Burning House in Australia, Not Los Angeles

This Video Does Not Show Actual Fires in Los Angeles

Sources

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