President-elect Donald Trump escalated his criticism of California’s wildfire response on Thursday, posting on Truth Social to baselessly accuse Gov. Gavin Newsom of withholding water that firefighters need to protect homes and businesses.
“Governor Gavin Newscum should immediately go to Northern California and open up the water main, and let the water flow into his dry, starving, burning State, instead of having it go out into the Pacific Ocean,” Trump wrote. “It ought to be done right now, NO MORE EXCUSES FROM THIS INCOMPETENT GOVERNOR. IT’S ALREADY FAR TOO LATE!”
Trump’s claim appears to stem from a misunderstanding of California’s complex water management system, which balances agricultural, commercial, residential, and environmental needs. This isn’t the first time he’s made such accusations. In 2018, during a severe wildfire season in Northern California, Trump similarly claimed that water was being withheld from firefighters. The state fire agency refuted the claim, clarifying that it was untrue.
Firefighters battling the current wildfires in neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades have struggled with maintaining water pressure, but experts point to aging water infrastructure as the culprit. The sudden spike in demand has depleted water tanks faster than they can be refilled, overstressing Los Angeles’ systems.
Trump’s criticisms of California’s wildfire management have often attracted attention for their inaccuracy. In previous disasters, he accused the state of failing to manage its forests properly, even suggesting officials should rake leaves like Finland allegedly does to prevent fires. The remark was widely mocked by Finns on social media and deemed irrelevant, as many of California’s fires have started in residential or non-forested areas.
During the current fire disaster, Trump reiterated his forest management claims, prompting a Fox News reporter to clarify that the Malibu fire originated in a residential area, making forest management unrelated.
California officials and experts continue to focus on combating the wildfires and addressing infrastructure challenges, while Trump’s remarks highlight ongoing political tensions between the president-elect and the state’s leadership. As firefighters battle to save lives and property, misinformation and political rhetoric risk overshadowing the real issues at hand.