Newsom should have done his job from the very beginning.
California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has raised alarms about the potential for President-elect Donald Trump to withhold federal disaster aid to the state amid ongoing wildfires, particularly in the greater Los Angeles area. In an interview with NBC News, Newsom suggested that Trump has a history of punishing states with Democratic leadership when it comes to disaster relief. Newsom pointed out that Trump had previously withheld federal aid from Utah, Michigan, Puerto Rico, and California during the 2018 fires, only changing course after he discovered that some areas—like Orange County—had voted for him.
Trump has often been outspoken about his frustrations with states like California, accusing local leaders of mismanaging resources. His relationship with Newsom has been especially strained. Last week, Trump criticized the governor’s handling of the wildfires and even called for his resignation. Trump also took aim at Newsom for allegedly failing to sign a “water restoration declaration” that would have redirected water resources to mitigate the wildfire damage, a claim Newsom quickly dismissed as “pure fiction.”
During the 2020 campaign, Trump warned California that if the state did not reinstate policies from his first term—such as redirecting water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta toward farmers in Southern California—he would withhold disaster relief. “The water coming here is dead,” Trump said, referring to the Delta, adding that Newsom would face “problems” if he didn’t comply.
Despite this back-and-forth, both Trump and his allies have indicated a willingness to work with California to address the crisis. Trump said he would still cooperate with Newsom, emphasizing that he got along with the governor during his previous tenure. Vice President-elect JD Vance echoed Trump’s remarks, emphasizing that Trump cares about all Americans and would ensure federal response agencies, like FEMA, are more effective in addressing the needs of those affected by the fires.
For Republicans, the key takeaway is clear: while Newsom continues to play partisan politics, the Trump administration stands ready to assist all Americans—regardless of political affiliation—when disaster strikes.