President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly warned California Governor Gavin Newsom about needing to do a better job of managing the state’s resources to prevent massive wildfires from erupting.
The fires, which began on Tuesday, have been spread by powerful Santa Ana winds, destroying more than 1,300 structures, as firefighters struggle to contain the blaze. Over 170,000 have been given evacuation notices as multiple major fires have broken out in the county including the Palisades Fire (17,234 acres), the Eaton Fire (10,600 acres), the Hurst Fire (855 acres), Sunset Fire (43 acres), and the Lidia Fire (348 acres).
Posts from 2019 from Trump’s then-Twitter account came to light during this week’s fires in Southern California, which have destroyed tens of thousands of acres of land to the tune of tens of billions of dollars.
“The Governor of California, @GavinNewsom, has done a terrible job of forest management,” Trump wrote in November 2019. “I told him from the first day we met that he must ‘clean’ his forest floors regardless of what his bosses, the environmentalists, DEMAND of him. Must also do burns and cut fire stoppers.”
The Governor of California, @GavinNewsom, has done a terrible job of forest management. I told him from the first day we met that he must “clean” his forest floors regardless of what his bosses, the environmentalists, DEMAND of him. Must also do burns and cut fire stoppers…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2019
“Every year, as the fire’s rage & California burns, it is the same thing-and then he comes to the Federal Government for $$$ help,” Trump continued. “No more. Get your act together Governor. You don’t see close to the level of burn in other states.”
Trump said that despite Newsom’s incompetence and neglect of the state’s fire issues, their teams were working well together “in putting these massive, and many, fires out. Great firefighters!”
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“Also, open up the ridiculously closed water lanes coming down from the North,” Trump added. “Don’t pour it out into the Pacific Ocean. Should be done immediately. California desperately needs water, and you can have it now!”
….putting these massive, and many, fires out. Great firefighters! Also, open up the ridiculously closed water lanes coming down from the North. Don’t pour it out into the Pacific Ocean. Should be done immediately. California desperately needs water, and you can have it now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2019
Trump called on Newsom to resign Wednesday night over the debacle.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday night. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”
Trump reiterated those calls early Thursday morning, writing: “Fire is spreading rapidly for 3 days — ZERO CONTAINMENT. Nobody has ever seen such failed numbers before! Gross incompetence by Gavin Newscum and Karen Bass….And Biden’s FEMA has no money — all wasted on the Green New Scam! L.A. is a total wipeout!!!”
