Wildfires proceed to batter Southern California, with a brand new one threatening San Diego County as of Friday. Fueled by document winds, the firestorm has killed 25 individuals and prompted a staggering $250 billion in estimated damages, making it one of many worst pure disasters in U.S. historical past.
Regardless of the devastation, Trump and the GOP-led Congress have floated the concept of withholding federal help for the Golden State. He has additionally lied and stated that California officers mismanaged the water provide after some fireplace hydrants within the Pacific Palisades space ran dry on the top of the fires. Los Angeles firefighters refuted this declare, arguing that hurricane-strength winds battering a drought-ravaged panorama imply “no water system in the world” might’ve stopped the wildfires.
Trump has repeatedly unfold misinformation concerning the causes of the Los Angeles fires and advised he is not going to launch any help except the state modifications its insurance policies or caves on his mass deportation plans. On Friday, he informed reporters he needs necessary voter identification added to the listing of capitulations he’s demanding from the progressive state—one thing specialists say results in voter suppression.
“People want to have voter identification. You want to have proof of citizenship. Ideally, you have one-day voting. But I just want voter ID as a start, and I want the water to be released,” Trump stated on a tarmac in Asheville, North Carolina, repeating nonsensical claims about California’s water provide. “After that, I will be the greatest president that California has ever seen.”
Trump additionally repeatedly stated he plans to overtake or eliminate the Federal Emergency Administration Company, which is tasked with responding to pure disasters.
“I think we’re going to recommend that FEMA go away,” Trump stated, including that he’d dismantle the company by signing an govt order. As Each day Kos reported, that is positive to hit the crimson states that voted for him the toughest.
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Trump: “I’ll be signing an EO to begin process of fundamentally reforming & overhauling or maybe getting rid of FEMA. I think, frankly, FEMA is not good. When you have a problem like this, you want to use your state to fix it & not waste time calling FEMA..I think we’re gonna recommend FEMA go away”
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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) January 24, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Trump has a historical past of enjoying politics with cities and states devastated by pure disasters if their leaders and voters disagree with him politically. His tried-and-true gambits embrace issuing threats by way of social media and spreading misinformation and conspiracies about FEMA restoration efforts, with conservative media following his lead.
Donate now to help Southern California aid efforts.
