President-elect Donald Trump called on California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign as he faces mounting criticism over his response to the Los Angeles wildfires.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum [sic] should resign. This is all his fault!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social late Wednesday night.
On Earlier Wednesday, Trump blasted Newsom, claiming the 57-year-old Democrat chose to save an extinct fish species instead of sending more water to Southern California.
“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt… but didn’t care about the people of California,” the incoming president said.
“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 to blame for this.”
The incoming president has long expressed worry over California’s lack of water resources — and has also frequently tore into Newsom for his liberal stances.
Newsom shot back at Trump, telling CNN while standing in front of burning buildings that “one can’t even respond to it.”
“People are literally fleeing, people have lost their lives. Kids lost their schools. Families completely torn asunder. Churches burned down. This guy wanted to politicize? I have a lot of thoughts and I know what I want to say — I won’t,” the governor said.
Tens of thousands have fled their homes in America’s second largest city as wildfires continue to burn, eviscerating houses and cars. At least five people have died.
High winds have spread embers through neighborhoods and there aren’t enough firefighters or water to contain the fire, leading to large swaths of land being completely charred and more than 1,000 buildings being wiped out.
Stay up to date with the NYP’s coverage of the terrifying LA-area fires
Trump also took aim at LA Mayor Karen Bass and President Biden as the fires reached their third day, slamming FEMA’s lack of funds.
Bass vaguely told California residents to go to a “URL” for assistance Wednesday during a press conference.
“If you need help, emergency information, resources, and shelter is available. All of this can be found at URL,” she said, without actually giving a web address.
Biden canceled his Friday trip to the Vatican — the last scheduled foreign trip of his presidency — to focus on the fires and has been in touch with local authorities.
“We’re prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes to contain these fires and to help reconstruct,” Biden said while standing next to Newsom in Santa Monica on Wednesday.
