President Trump took to Twitter Saturday morning to call out California officials for mismanaging forests, threatening to keep federal disaster funding away from Californians if it continues.
There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018
Trump had previously issued an emergency declaration, providing federal funds to help firefighters.
His tweet comes as thousands of Californians remain evacuated from Butte, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Wildfires across the state have burned thousands of homes and killed at least 9 people but firefighters expect that number to rise as they access new damaged areas.
Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom immediately responded to Trump, saying now is not a time for partisanship.
Lives have been lost. Entire towns have been burned to the ground. Cars abandoned on the side of the road. People are being forced to flee their homes. This is not a time for partisanship. This is a time for coordinating relief and response and lifting those in need up. https://t.co/sAZ3QULV8G
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 10, 2018
Newsom issued a state of emergency declarations for all of the counties impacted by California Wildfires, which are now the most destructive in California history.
