Trump tours LA fire destruction amid worries about disaster aid

President Donald Trump went to California on Friday to study the destruction of fatal forest fires that devastated several communities in the Los Angeles region earlier this month.

The visit, at the end of the first week of Trump back to power, took place as he continued to denounce that the state’s emergency response was led by the Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom – one of the Trump’s most ferocious criticism – and is concerned that the president could retain aid for policies in the liberal state.

Despite the political rivalry, Newsom praised Trump on the Tarmac when he left the Air Force One, arriving from North Carolina where he made damage caused by Hurricane Helene, who rocked the western part of the state in September.

Trump’s visit has occurred while new fires have ignited southern California, and local officials continue to deal with dry and winding weather conditions that promote fire growth.

Addressing journalists after shaking Newsom’s hand, Trump said: “I appreciate that the governor will go out and meet me”.

“We want to repair it,” he continued by telling Newsom that the suites seem “as if you had been touched by a bomb.”

Newsom, whom Trump nicknamed “Newscum”, then thanked Trump for having come to visit, saying to him: “We are going to need your support, we will need your help”.

“You were there for us during Cavid, I do not forget that, and I have all the expectations that we can work together to obtain this quick recovery,” said Newsom.

Trump then visited the ruins of the Pacific Palisades district with his wife Melania, then attended a round table with local leaders, notably the mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass. He swore to sign a decree that would pump water from the northern parts of the state to the south.

He was briefly disputed with the mayor’s bass after saying that residents had to be patient – because cleaning teams need time to eliminate “hazardous waste” such as toxic ashes of things like lead, polyaromatic hydrocarbons And asbestos – before being able to return home.

“What is hazardous waste? I mean, you will have to define this,” said Trump, adding: “I just think you should allow people to go to their site and start the process This evening.”

New Blazes – named Laguna, Sepulveda, Gibbel, Gilman and Border 2 – broke out Thursday in the counties of Los Angeles, San Diego, Ventura and Riverside – all in southern California.

The firefighters progressed in the control of the fire of 10,000 acres in Hughes in Los Angeles, the container of 79% since he broke out on Wednesday, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate.

The fires have devastated the US state in recent weeks, the palisades and the Eaton fires burning a combined total of more than 37,000 acres and killing at least 28 people. Several districts have been leveled, leaving more than 10,000 houses and companies in ashes.

“Unfortunately, this is a very sad period, but what makes you feel good is that I have met so many owners, and each of them, many of them, and each of them said to me, they want to rebuild, “Mr. Trump said after flying over the helicopter and tours the ruins on foot.

“The federal government is 100% behind you,” he told local leaders.

Governor Newsom announced on Thursday a state aid package of $ 2.5 billion (2 billion pounds Sterling) to cope with fire damage.

Trump criticized the response to California fires, threatening to retain federal aid unless the state changes its water laws and does not implement laws forcing an ID to vote in the elections.

“After that, I will be the biggest president that California has ever seen,” said Trump earlier.

California generally does not need to vote by ID, but made to register to vote.

The Newsom office said in a press release on social networks that: “conditional aid to American citizens is wrong”.

Brian Rice, the president of California professional firefighters, told the BBC that he hoped that Trump would not deny the federal aid of the state.

“The most important goal we have is to obtain federal aid in California, in these communities where people have lost their lives, their homes,” he said.

The city is expected to accommodate both the summer Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup matches in 2028 in 2026 – two world events that will project the Los Angeles region under the spotlight.

Trump also criticized the work carried out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – which is responsible for responding to such disasters – as part of the Biden administration.

He suggested getting rid of the agency and letting US states manage disasters in their jurisdictions.

“FEMA is a very expensive situation, in my opinion, especially stranded,” Trump told local leaders. “Each state should take care of its problem and get money from the federal government. It would be so much better.”

He made similar comments during a visit to North Carolina, where at least 104 people were killed in a hurricane, saying that “Fema was not doing their job” in this state.

He noted that some residents still have no power or hot water and it was “completely unacceptable”.

Questioned by the BBC if he would refuse federal aid in California, but not North Carolina, Trump said that situations of the two states were different.

His response came after praising the “big numbers” in North Carolina had given him when he wore the state during the 2024 presidential election. He then noted that he had won the state to all The general elections and the republican primary competition in which he had been on the ballot.

Meanwhile, California has always voted against Trump in the last three presidential elections by substantial margins.

Los Angeles is under a raised risk zone of fire today with winds highly, according to BBC.

The rain is expected during the weekend in the county, as well as snow in the mountains of southern California.

However, although this will contribute to fire fighting efforts, it is to be feared that this also causes floods and flow delating delogs, creating mud shifts.

Specialized teams have worked to try to secure burned areas, while sandbags and other flood prevention supplies have been given to the inhabitants so that they can protect their properties.

Twenty-three people died in 2018 when The mudslides hit the Californian city of MontecitoOne of the areas that had recently been affected by Thomas’ fire.