Donald Trump is laying the blame on the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area squarely on California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The U.S. president-elect fanned the flames on social media Wednesday when he claimed the governor, whom he nicknamed “Gavin Newscum,” refused to sign a water restoration declaration that apparently would have diverted water from the northern part of the state to the parched southern area.
“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Now the ultimate price is being paid.”
Trump also said that there was no water for fire hydrants nor firefighting planes.
According to the New York Post, Trump has long been a proponent for water to be sent south from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to help farmers deal with drought-like conditions.
In 2020, Trump signed a federal memorandum that would redirect millions of gallons of excess water from rainfall to drier areas of the state, according to Courthouse News Service.
Newsom’s administration successfully blocked the order in court and came up with a different plan with President Joe Biden that would redirect water and also protect the endangered smelt.
Later Wednesday, a spokesperson for Newsom’s administration denied Trump’s claims.
“There is no such document as the water restoration declaration – that is pure fiction,” communications director Izzy Gardon said in a written statement, according to CalMatters, a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization.
“The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need.”
Trump continued his criticisms of Newsom on Wednesday evening and into Thursday morning, calling for the governor’s resignation.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” he wrote. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”
“Fire is spreading rapidly for 3 days — ZERO CONTAINMENT,” he added. “Nobody has ever seen such failed numbers before! Gross incompetence by Gavin Newscum and [Los Angeles Mayor] Karen Bass …. And Biden’s FEMA has no money — all wasted on the Green New Scam! L.A. is a total wipeout!!!”
The blazes that have ravaged numerous communities in Los Angeles County, including Pacific Palisades and Altadena, has killed five people and destroyed or damaged nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and structures.
Southern California has seen little to no rain for months. Exacerbating the situation is the Santa Ana winds reaching hurricane-force gusts, which helped spread the fires much more quickly.