President-elect Donald Trump has sparked controversy by blaming California Governor Gavin Newsom for the devastating wildfires currently raging in Southern California, citing a nonexistent “water restoration declaration” that he claims would have prevented the disaster.
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to criticize Newsom, stating:”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 snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way.”
The president-elect further accused Newsom of prioritizing the protection of “an essentially worthless fish called a smelt” over the well-being of Californians.
But, Newsom’s office has categorically denied the existence of any such “water restoration declaration,” calling it “pure fiction.” Second, the current wildfires in Los Angeles County were ignited due to fierce winds and extremely dry conditions, not water management policies. And while firefighters did experience some water pressure problems, these were due to the unprecedented demand on the system during the firefight, not because of any policy decisions.
Trump’s wayward comments appear to be a continuation of long-standing disagreements with California’s leadership over water management and environmental policies. In 2020, Trump signed a memorandum aimed at redirecting water from Northern California to agricultural areas in the central and southern parts of the state. This action was opposed by Newsom and then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who viewed it as harmful to the state’s ecosystems.
As of January 8, 2025, multiple fires are spreading across Southern California, causing significant destruction and forcing evacuations. Two fatalities have been reported, and over 1,000 buildings have been destroyed. President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for California, allowing access to federal funds and resources for recovery efforts.
While criticism of government policies during natural disasters is not uncommon, it’s crucial to base such critiques on factual information.
In this case, Trump’s claims about a “water restoration declaration” appear to be unfounded and disconnected from the actual causes and ongoing management of the current wildfire crisis in Southern California.
More Trump lies, as usual.
The COVID pandemic told us all we need to know about how Trump handles emergencies.