Trump blames Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom for deadly wildfires
President-elect Donald Trump blamed President Joe Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday for the wildfires raging in Los Angeles that have killed at least five people and forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes.
“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," Trump wrote in one of several posts on his social media platform, Truth Social.
He added that Newsom "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!”
In a statement in response, Newsom's director of communications, Izzy Gardon, accused Trump of "playing politics" while the wildfires continued to wreak havoc in Southern California.
"There is no such document as the water restoration declaration – that is pure fiction. The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need," Gardon said.
President-elect Donald Trump blamed President Joe Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday for the wildfires raging in Los Angeles that have killed at least five people and forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes.
“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," Trump wrote in one of several posts on his social media platform, Truth Social.
He added that Newsom "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!”
In a statement in response, Newsom's director of communications, Izzy Gardon, accused Trump of "playing politics" while the wildfires continued to wreak havoc in Southern California.
"There is no such document as the water restoration declaration – that is pure fiction. The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need," Gardon said.