On Sunday, January 12, United States President-elect Donald Trump criticized California politicians for their handling of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump expressed his frustration, saying, “The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols (politicians) have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost.”
He continued, “There is death all over the place. This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”
Death toll reaches 16
Trump’s comments came as the death toll from the wildfires rose to 16. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to contain the spreading flames, racing against the clock before strong winds were expected to return, potentially pushing the fires toward some of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks.
According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, five deaths were linked to the Palisades Fire, while 11 fatalities were attributed to the Eaton Fire, as stated in a report released on Saturday evening. There were growing concerns that the fires could be driven toward the J. Paul Getty Museum and the University of California, Los Angeles. Meanwhile, new evacuation warnings left many homeowners increasingly anxious, as reported by the Associated Press.
California Governor Gavin Newsom on the wildfires
California Governor Gavin Newsom deflected responsibility when asked about the public anger over his administration’s handling of the wildfires, stating that he was not receiving clear answers.
In a recent podcast, Governor Newsom explained that local leaders and his team failed to provide him with a straightforward picture of the situation. “So, I’m the governor of California and wanna know the answer. I’ve got that question, I can’t tell you, by how many people, ‘What happened?’ – on my own team, ‘What happened?’… I’ll be candid with you, I wasn’t getting straight answers,” Newsom said.
