Trump renews political threats over California wildfire disaster aid

President-elect Donald Trump blamed California's leadership for devastating Los Angeles wildfires and revived his warning to withhold disaster funds from Democratic leaders.

Scott Waldman reports for E&E News.

In short:

Santa Ana winds fueled deadly fires that destroyed over 1,000 buildings in Los Angeles, with at least five fatalities reported.
Trump criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden, linking the crisis to environmental policies and inadequate wildfire management.
Biden issued a disaster declaration to unlock federal aid, but Trump suggested he may use funding as political leverage once in office.

Key quote:

“Firefighters are putting their lives on the lines. Political insults and threats do nothing to help families who are hurting.”

— California Sen. Alex Padilla

Why this matters:

California’s wildfire crisis highlights the devastating impact of extreme weather, intensified by climate change. Threats to politicize federal disaster relief could hinder recovery and set a dangerous precedent for withholding aid during future disasters.

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