Staff Reports
California Governor Gavin Newsom has once again found himself in the crosshairs, and this time it’s former President Donald Trump delivering the zingers over the state’s fiery infernos. During an address at the Capitol, Trump didn’t mince words about the chaos sweeping Southern California, laying the blame squarely on Newsom for the lack of crucial resources like water. With wildfires wreaking havoc, the governor’s management—or lack thereof—has sparked heated discussions, the flames of which should have been doused with a fire hydrant or two.
Trump pointed out the glaring irony in California’s predicament: the state has natural resources aplenty, yet farmers face drought-like conditions while the water is allowed to flow out to the ocean. In a classic case of governmental mismanagement, the previous administration proposed a plan to redirect water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to agricultural land, but it was halted to protect the delta smelt, a microscopic fish that appears to have more political clout than the hard-working farmers in the state. The fish may be endangered, but the human livelihood seems to have taken a backseat in this watery calamity.
Trump spoke Just 4 months ago in LA County, about the need for California to send more water downstate:
"You have so much water…you could revert water up into the Hills, where you have all the dead forests…the land would be damp—and you'd stop many of these horrible fires."… pic.twitter.com/zlQikIIU8z
— Johnny Midnight ⚡️ (@its_The_Dr) January 8, 2025
Despite the ruckus, Trump did manage to find a silver lining in the chaos, reminiscing about the times he and Newsom worked together. Perhaps they bonded over the shared anxiety of watching the state burn while debating whose environmental policies are more effective. Nonetheless, the former president didn’t hold back on his critique of Newsom’s leadership, asserting that the governor’s response to the fires has been less than stellar and that the people of California deserve far better than what they are currently getting.
The infernos have led to mass evacuations, with thousands fleeing their homes as flames consume everything in sight. Tragically, lives have been lost, homes reduced to ashes, and countless structures destroyed, leaving a wake of devastation. While California grapples with the destruction, Trump pointed out the impending nightmare facing insurance companies, highlighting that they will soon find themselves in big trouble as they tally the costs of the calamity.
As the wildfires crimson the golden state landscape, California voters might want to reconsider how much longer they are willing to let a fish dictate water policy, especially when entire communities are at risk. When it comes to prioritizing, it seems the Newsom administration has its priorities quite literally turned upside down, leaving California’s farmers and residents pondering when their needs will take precedence over a tiny fish’s survival. It’s high time for the people of California to demand more from their leadership before the state self-ignites again and more communities are left grappling with the ashes.
