Incoming US President Donald Trump ignited a political conflict with outgoing President Joe Biden and California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday over the raging wildfires in Los Angeles.
Trump launched a series of unfounded accusations against Newsom, including claims that the governor had mismanaged water resources, suggesting that water which could have been used to fight the fires was instead being diverted to protect a certain type of fish.
“Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network, using his familiar nickname for Newsom, who is widely considered a potential presidential contender. Trump also criticized President Biden, saying the devastating fires highlighted the urgency of his impending transition into office on January 20. “Let this serve, and be emblematic, of the gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo,” he added.
In response, Biden rejected any attempt to politicize the crisis. Speaking from the White House, where he convened a crisis meeting with administration officials, he stressed that the situation was not about political point-scoring. He had planned to leave for Italy to meet with Pope Francis, but canceled the trip to address the fires. “I’m leaving this office very shortly, but it’s not about the politics,” Biden said. “It’s about giving people some sense of security that we’re going to be able to get this under control.”
Biden also announced new federal funding and resources to aid California in dealing with what he described as the most devastating wildfires in the state’s history. At the same time, he made a point to refute accusations that Democratic mismanagement had contributed to water shortages that hampered firefighting efforts.
