As raging wildfires force more than 100,000 Southern California residents from their homes and threaten 28,000 structures, a heated political battle has erupted between President-elect Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom over the state’s fire response. At least five people have died in the blazes that continue to challenge firefighting crews across Los Angeles County.
The conflict intensified when Trump accused Newsom of exacerbating the crisis by refusing to sign what he called a “water restoration declaration,” a document that Newsom’s office says doesn’t exist. Trump claimed this hypothetical agreement would have provided crucial water resources to combat the fires.
Trump accused Newsom of prioritizing the protection of what he called a “worthless fish” over California residents, referring to the endangered delta smelt. He claimed water that could have been used for firefighting was diverted instead to protect the species. “He is the blame for this,” Trump stated, demanding Newsom’s resignation.
Newsom’s office countered Trump’s assertions, confirming that firefighters had adequate water supplies through water tenders and that no water shortage existed. The governor’s spokesperson stated, “There is no such document as the ‘water restoration declaration’ that Trump referenced.”
Newsom, focusing on immediate crisis response rather than political rhetoric, stated that he would not engage with Trump’s criticisms while “people were fleeing” and “kids lost their schools” due to the devastating fires.
The dispute recalls similar conflicts during Trump’s presidency. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, Trump repeatedly threatened to withhold federal disaster relief funding from California, blaming the state’s forest management practices for the fires. California officials noted that federal disaster assistance was ultimately provided despite these threats.
A former Trump administration aide revealed that during the 2018 wildfires, Trump initially refused to approve disaster aid for California due to its Democratic-leaning politics. He only agreed after officials showed him that the heavily damaged areas had significant numbers of Trump supporters.
President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for California, enabling fire victims to access federal funds and resources for recovery. The White House has not responded to Trump’s recent remarks.
The current wildfire crisis echoes similar challenges from previous years. In 2018, during a visit to Paradise, California, which was devastated by the deadliest wildfire in the state’s history, Trump toured the ruins while maintaining his stance on forest management. He was accompanied by then-Governor Jerry Brown and Governor-elect Newsom during that visit, despite their public disagreements on environmental policies.
During that same period, the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, California burned approximately 80,000 acres before firefighters achieved 76% containment. Climate scientists pointed to drier, warmer conditions as factors contributing to more frequent and severe wildfires in the state.
Trump’s recent criticism extends beyond state leadership to federal policies. He falsely claimed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lacked funds due to what he termed the “Green New Scam,” despite the agency’s active role in providing disaster assistance. These statements came as firefighters reported high water demand, causing pressure and supply challenges in affected areas.
Water experts note that Trump’s comments do not reflect the complexity of California’s water supply systems, adding that redirecting more water from Northern California would not have prevented or extinguished the fires. The Biden administration and state officials recently agreed to a new long-term operating plan for the Delta water projects.
