You won’t believe what Trump said.
President-elect Donald Trump, months before California’s devastating wildfires ignited this week, warned of the state’s looming fire risks and criticized Governor Gavin Newsom’s failed leadership in managing both water resources and wildfire prevention.
In a prescient October interview with Joe Rogan, Trump pointed out that California’s mismanagement of water was contributing to the state’s increasing vulnerability to natural disasters, including fires. “In Los Angeles, you can’t get proper amounts of water,” Trump said, pointing out that water that could be used to fight fires was being wasted. He specifically referenced the state’s decision to divert water to the ocean to protect a small fish species, a policy he has consistently called out. “Millions of gallons of water are poured into the Pacific,” Trump noted, an example of what he calls California’s disastrous water policies that, in his view, jeopardize both public safety and agriculture.
Trump, ever critical of Newsom, expressed his frustration with the Governor’s unwillingness to act on straightforward solutions. During his time in office, Trump worked on a plan to redirect California’s surplus water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to aid farmers and reduce water shortages. Despite the federal plan, Newsom’s administration blocked the initiative, choosing to prioritize environmental concerns over practical solutions that could help prevent disasters like the wildfires.
Now, as firefighters battle out-of-control blazes around Los Angeles, Trump’s warnings are ringing true. He has once again lashed out at Newsom for “gross negligence” in handling the crisis, accusing him of failing to prepare adequately for wildfires. On Truth Social, Trump slammed Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for their “failed leadership,” emphasizing the lack of containment after several days of devastating fires.
Trump has long advocated for forest management reforms, criticizing Newsom for not clearing dead trees and brush that fuel deadly wildfires. In a 2019 post, he argued that Newsom’s inaction on forest management contributed to California’s annual fire crisis. “Every year as the fires rage, it’s the same story—California burns, and Newsom asks for federal help,” Trump wrote. “No more. Get your act together, Governor.”
For years, Trump has sounded the alarm about California’s unpreparedness for wildfire season, focusing on both water management and forest management as critical areas that need urgent reform. His criticism of Newsom’s leadership in managing these issues remains a central theme in his campaign to push for responsible, conservative governance in America’s states.