Trump claims California burned when governor tried to save “worthless” fish

On By Littum


New Delhi:

As thousands flee their homes in California due to wildfires, US President-elect Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying “this is all his fault” and he must stop. Earlier, Trump alleged that the governor’s policies were to blame for the situation in some of America’s most prominent cities. The governor has hit back, saying people are fleeing and the president-elect’s response is to politicize it.

Among the worst hit areas is Los Angeles, home to Hollywood celebrities. At least five people have been killed and 1,500 buildings damaged as firefighters battle to control the blaze. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said they don’t have enough firefighters to handle the situation. “We’re doing the best we can. But no, we don’t have enough fire crews in LA County between all the departments to handle this,” he said, according to an AFP report.

In a post on TruthSocial, Trump claimed that California’s governor had refused to sign a water restoration declaration that would have allowed millions of gallons into California. Referring to Newsom as “Newscum,” he said, “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration presented to him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snowmelt from the north, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas currently burning in an almost apocalyptic fashion.”

“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. On top of that, no water for fire hydrants, no firefighting planes disaster!” Trump added.

In a post later in the day, the president-elect said the governor must resign. “One of the best and most beautiful parts of America is burning to the ground. It’s ashes and Gavin Newscum should resign. It’s all his fault!!!” he said.

Hitting back at the president-elect’s accusation, the California governor’s office said the governor is focused on saving people instead of politics. “There is no such document as the water restoration statement – it is pure fiction. The governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need,” his office said in a post on X.

The governor slapped the president-elect from his account. “People are literally fleeing. Children have lost their schools. Communities have lost their churches. Families have lost their homes. Some have even lost their lives. And the president-elect’s response is to politicize it,” he said. “We will continue to focus on what matters: saving lives and putting out these unprecedented fires.”

Much of Los Angeles’ water comes from the Colorado River, and agriculture takes the lion’s share of the water flowing into Southern California, AFP has reported.

Outgoing President Joe Biden has canceled a trip to Italy to focus on the firefight. “We are doing anything and everything and as long as it takes to contain these fires,” he has said.