Trump's bitter feud with California Governor Newsom: Is politics really more important than LA fire victims?

As Los Angeles faces its worst wildfire crisis in decades, President-elect Donald Trump has used the disaster not as an opportunity to unite, but to launch blistering attacks on political opponents, raising the question: Does he care more about fueling political feuds than addressing the needs of fire victims?

Just hours before his explosive late-night post, Trump posted: “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!!!”

Trump earlier raged, “ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES IS BURNING DOWN TO THE GROUND!” accusing Governor of California Newsom of being directly responsible for the disaster. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”

The brutal attacks didn’t stop there. Earlier in the day, Trump doubled down, blaming the wildfires on what he called the “gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo,” pointing his finger at both political leaders in an incendiary rant that left little room for sympathy in the face of crisis.

Politics first, people last: Trump’s priorities in crisis
Newsom, clearly exasperated by Trump’s opportunistic attacks, criticized the president-elect for politicizing the crisis instead of providing aid. “People are literally fleeing, people have lost their lives, kids lost their schools, families completely torn asunder, churches burned down,” Newsom said in an emotional CNN interview. “This guy wanted to politicize it.”

Meanwhile, fellow Republicans like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are focusing on offering prayers and assistance, taking a more diplomatic approach in the face of disaster.

Trump’s wildfire blame game: Is it about water or politics?

Despite expert opinions dismissing his claims, Trump continues to point the finger at California’s water policies, arguing that Newsom’s management of the state’s water resources is to blame for the fires. However, experts have firmly debunked this argument, citing the fires' origins in extreme weather conditions—winds and dry spells exacerbated by climate change, not water mismanagement.

“Linking water management to these catastrophic wildfires is deeply irresponsible,” said Mark Gold, an expert on water scarcity for the Natural Resources Defense Council. The real issue, Gold explained, is the changing climate, not state policies designed to protect wildlife, reported the Daily Beast.

Trump’s focus: Is it on rebuilding or reigniting conflict?

In a press conference on Wednesday, Trump remarked, “We are going to be the ones having to rebuild it. I don’t think there is anything that I have ever seen quite like it.”