Gov. Gavin Newsom is firing back at President-elect Donald Trump over comments he made Wednesday about his response to the deadly wildfires currently ravaging Southern California.
Trump spoke to reporters after attending meetings Wednesday on Capitol Hill and accused Newsom of “[doing] good job,” but noted that they “worked well together” and will do so again when he takes over later this month.
“It's very sad because I was trying to get Gavin Newsom to allow the water to come in – you'd have a lot of water there, and send it to the Pacific – because they're trying to protect the little fish,” Trump said. “Because of the smell, they don't have water… It's the governor's fault, and you can say, the management.”
Newsom's press office released a statement on social media following Trump's comments that there is a reason not to use these pumps.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President-elect Trump have clashed over a variety of issues, including the California wildfires. (Getty/AP)
“LADWP said that due to the high demand for water, pumping stations at higher elevations do not have adequate pressure tanks at higher elevations, and the ongoing fire has hampered the ability of crews to find pumps,” Newsom's press office wrote in X.
His office added that the city uses water tenders to provide water, which is a common method of extinguishing wildfires.
Newsom's office also dismissed allegations of water shortages.
MALIBU, CA – January 08: Firefighters continue to battle wind and fire as homes go up in flames in Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway near Carbon Canyon Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
“In general, there is no water shortage in Southern California right now, despite Trump's claims that he will turn on the spigot,” Newsom's office said.
The bureau posted several quotes from California officials saying water reliability and water supplies are stable.
Some of the views said that the water is enough to feed 40 million people for a whole year.
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Earlier in the afternoon, Trump accused Newsom of refusing to sign the water restoration declaration and criticized him for containing the small fire.
“Let this work, and be a sign, of the ignorance and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo. January 20th can't come soon enough!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) lashed out at President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday after allegations that he mishandled the California wildfires. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Newsom's office said there is no such thing as a water restoration announcement.
They also noted that water supply and transportation are not related.
“Trump is conflating two completely unrelated things: Southern California water delivery and local storage,” according to the post. “And again, there is no such thing as a declaration of water restoration – this is pure fiction.”
Still, Trump isn't done with his criticism of Newsom.
In a scathing late-night post on Truth Social, Trump said the wildfires were “all his fault!!!”
Trump also called on Newsom to resign.
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“One of the most beautiful and beautiful places in the United States of America has burned to the ground,” Trump wrote. “It's ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”
In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper earlier Wednesday, Newsom was asked in general about Trump blaming him for the wildfire disaster.
“One can't even answer it. I mean… you know, people are really fleeing. People lost their lives. Children lost their schools. Families were completely torn apart. Churches were burned,” Newsom told Cooper. “This guy wanted to get you into politics. I have a lot of thoughts, and I know what I want to say – I won't.”
Newsom went on to praise President Biden, saying he “didn't play politics.”
Biden visited a Los Angeles fire station Wednesday near Newsom to receive a briefing from authorities on the raging wildfire.
I California wildfireswhich erupted on Tuesday afternoon, has already forced more than 100,000 people to leave their homes. Fires in the Los Angeles area threaten at least 28,000 structures. At least five people were killed.
Newsom declared a state of emergency Tuesday after the Palisades fire grew out of control.
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