Musk is furious and he has every right to be.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is once again under fire, this time from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump. The two have clashed over Newsom’s handling of the catastrophic wildfires that ravaged Southern California, leaving destruction in their wake. Musk, who has been a vocal critic of Newsom for years, is using this latest crisis to double down on his criticisms, which have only intensified as Trump prepares for a second term in office.
The wildfires, which have become some of the deadliest in California’s history, have drawn sharp condemnation from both Musk and Trump allies, who accuse Newsom of mismanagement and inefficiency. Over 24 lives were lost, and entire neighborhoods were reduced to ashes. With the state in crisis, Musk and others have called out Newsom for failing to adequately prepare and respond to the fires.
Musk, who has also been chosen to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisory board under Trump, has not shied away from pointing fingers. One of his most significant criticisms involves the state’s failure to build adequate water storage systems. Sharing a post from the popular conservative account Libs of TikTok, Musk slammed Newsom for not addressing California’s ongoing water shortage—an issue that directly impacts firefighting efforts. Musk’s post read simply: “Crazy.”
To make matters worse, reports surfaced during the fires of fire hydrants being dry or malfunctioning, further stoking the flames of outrage. Newsom responded by calling for an independent investigation, but many critics, including Musk, argue that the governor’s actions have only compounded the crisis. Musk, in particular, has blamed “overregulation” and poor governance at the state and local levels, dismissing the narrative that climate change is to blame.
Musk didn’t stop there. He also shared a post accusing Newsom and the Democratic-controlled state legislature of decriminalizing looting, a charge Newsom quickly denied, labeling it as “false” and accusing Musk of stoking division and misinformation.
In retaliation, Newsom posted a video clip where Musk interacted with firefighters battling the Palisades fire. In the footage, Musk inquires about the water supply, only to be corrected by a firefighter who clarified that the shortage wasn’t due to a lack of water but rather an issue with the system’s ability to handle the amount being pumped. Newsom seized on this moment, calling Musk out for “exposing his own lies.”
Meanwhile, Trump has added his voice to the chorus of criticism, labeling Newsom as “incompetent” and accusing him of blocking water access to Southern California to protect endangered fish species. Newsom’s office swiftly shot down this claim, calling it “pure fiction.”
With tensions running high, Newsom and Musk’s war of words is unlikely to die down anytime soon. The growing feud between California’s governor and one of the nation’s most influential business figures could intensify scrutiny of Newsom’s leadership, especially as Trump’s administration takes shape. As wildfires continue to ravage the state, Californians are left wondering whether Newsom’s leadership can rise to the occasion or if he will continue to be outflanked by critics like Musk and Trump.