MJP –
Firefighters across California were infuriated when former president Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal wildfire funding from the state if Governor Gavin Newsom didn’t comply with his policies, during a so-called campaign visit that was more of a golf course ad.
The president announced on Friday during a fundraiser held at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf club. The president commented following his tirade on a “very large faucet” in Canada that does not exist, which he said was preventing water from reaching California and contributing to the state’s drought.
“If Gavin Newsom doesn’t sign those papers, we won’t give him money to put out all his fires. The automobile industry is dead, and the water coming in is dead as well. Gavin Newsom is going to sign those papers,” Trump stated. “And he’s got problems if we don’t give him the money to put out his fires.”
The 2020 Dixie Fire in Greenville, California
Firefighters in California’s wilderness areas were naturally outraged by the proclamation. According to Brian K. Rice, president of the California Professional Firefighters, the former president ought to feel shame for the threat.
Trump has threatened to threaten the lives and homes of Californians if he does not get his way, according to a statement tweeted by Rice. If he were to win the presidency again, he would prefer to see our state destroyed for the sake of his political ambitions than to offer assistance.
Having this man in a position to endanger our jobs, safety, families, and state is an embarrassment to our wonderful country and to every citizen of California.
Following Trump’s threat, Newsom spoke out, describing it as a message to all Americans.
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On Twitter, Newsom said that Trump had just acknowledged his intention to use emergency disaster monies to resolve personal political grudges.
The flames in California are the focus today. Funding for North Carolina’s hurricane victims or Pennsylvanians’ flood victims might be on the agenda tomorrow. The United States of America is of no concern to Donald Trump; his focus is solely on himself.
Trump has a history of rejecting disaster relief for California. In 2020, during the worst wildfire season on record, his administration first turned down a request from the state.
After a state-wide panic ensued due to damage, cleanup, and rebuilding issues, the administration eventually approved the funding.
