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California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday fired back at President-elect Donald Trump over his harsh criticism of the state and local governments’ handling of the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County.
Newsom, 57, suggested Trump, 78, was spewing “disinformation” and urged the incoming president to trek to the region and see the devastation for himself.
“I called for him to come out, take a look for himself,” Newsom told NBC News in an interview that aired on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, referring to a letter he sent the president-elect last week.
“We want to do it in the spirit of an open hand, not a closed fist,” Newsom said of cooperation between his office and the feds.
“I don’t think that mis[information] and disinformation advantages or aids any of us. Responding to Donald Trump’s insults, we would spend another month. I’m very familiar with them. Every elected official that he disagrees with is very familiar with them,” the Democratic gov said.
Trump has blasted California’s leaders as “incompetent” and fumed at their inability to put out the fires. The incoming president has also re-upped his well-warn demands that California do a much better job at forest and water management.
The incoming president has indicated that he will demand dramatic reforms in California, prompting concerns from Newsom about whether Trump will leverage federal aid to extract those concessions.
“He’s done it in Utah. He’s done it in Michigan. Did it Puerto Rico,” Newsom complained of Trump. “He did it to California back before I was even governor in 2018, until he found out folks in Orange County voted for him, and then he decided to give the money.
“So he’s been at this for years and years and years. That’s his style. And we take it seriously.”
Newsom had called Trump after his election victory, but the two didn’t connect and haven’t touched base since.
First responders in California are scrambling to contain the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire in particular, according to data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Other infernos such as the Kenneth Fire, Hurst Fire and Lidia Fire have been significantly contained. Overall, the wildfires have killed at least 16 people and burned down more than 12,300 homes and businessses.
Newsom, when asked if the fires will go down as the worst natural disaster in US history, replied, “I think it will be in terms of just the costs associated with it in terms of the scale and scope.”
California politicians have taken heavy criticism over cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget, the 117-million gallon Santa Ynez Reservoir being closed for repairs when the wildfires erupted and the lack of water as well as pressure to fight the blazes.
Newsom has called for an independent investigation into the dry fire hydrants that hamstrung first responders and said he intends to pursue significant reforms.
Stay up to date with the NYP’s coverage of the terrifying LA-area fires
The term-limited governor is also planning to take executive actions aimed at attacking potential price gouging and to streamline efforts to rebuild.
“I’m worried about issues of rebuilding as it relates to scarcity [of resources], as it relates to [increased] property taxes,” he said.
“I want to make sure when someone rebuilds that they have their old property tax assessments and that they’re not increased. So all of that’s been done in the executive order we just announced.”
Newsom has his sights set on rebuilding Los Angeles County ahead of the 2028 Olympics and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“That’s why we’re already organizing a Marshall Plan. We already have a team looking at reimagining LA 2.0, and we are making sure everyone’s included, not just the folks on the coast,” Newsom said.
He noted that “Trump, to his credit, was helpful in getting the Olympics to the United States of America, to get it down here.”
