The incoming US president has accused Gavin Newsom of prioritizing “worthless fish” over human lives with his water policies
US President-elect Donald Trump has urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to resign over the state’s devastating wildfires, alleging his water policies caused the disaster.
The wildfires, which started earlier this week, have wreaked havoc across California, killing at least five people and forcing more than 100,000 to evacuate. The fires have consumed over 20,000 acres, including parts of affluent areas in Los Angeles County, damaging or destroying more than 2,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings, according to officials. Some firefighters have reportedly been hindered by a lack of water in fire hydrants.
Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to lash out at Newsom, urging him to resign. “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before 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 that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” he wrote.
He further accused Newsom of prioritizing environmental policies over human lives: “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.”
Trump also criticized US President Joe Biden over the crisis: “NO WATER IN THE FIRE HYDRANTS, NO MONEY IN FEMA. THIS IS WHAT JOE BIDEN IS LEAVING ME. THANKS JOE!”, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Newsom’s director of communications, Izzy Gardon, dismissed the criticism, accusing Trump of “playing politics” during a crisis. “The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need,” Gardon said.
Newsom has declared a state of emergency, and President Joe Biden canceled a trip to Italy to prioritize directing the federal response in the days ahead.
Areas hit hardest by the fire include the Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Pasadena, San Fernando Valley, and Sepulveda Basin. Several celebrity homes have been destroyed in the fires, including those of Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins, Mandy Moore, and Leighton Meester.
“@AnthonyHopkins has tragically lost his (Palisades) home in the devastating California wildfires that have swept through Los Angeles. In November 2018, his (Malibu) home narrowly escaped the Woolsey fire. in 2000, Hopkins lost his London home in a fire.” https://t.co/2xZNeWCZNX
According to the Hollywood Reporter, another fire has broken out not far from the Runyon Canyon, dangerously close to such iconic landmarks as the Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood Walk of Fame, while also threatening tourist hotspots such as the TCL Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
