A political clash erupted this week as President-elect Donald Trump blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom for the devastating wildfires ravaging Southern California, alleging mismanagement of water resources. The fires, which ignited Tuesday, have already claimed five lives, destroyed over 28,000 structures, and forced more than 100,000 residents to flee.
Trump, speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday, accused Newsom of withholding water from Southern California to protect the Delta smelt, a small fish species. "For the sake of a smelt, they have no water... It's a mistake of the governor," Trump said. He went on to claim that Newsom refused to sign a "water restoration declaration" that could have prevented the fires.
Newsom quickly countered Trump's remarks, issuing a firm rebuttal. "There is no such document as the water restoration declaration - that is pure fiction," said Izzy Gardon, Newsom's communications director, in a statement. "The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need."
Newsom's office emphasized that there is no water shortage in Southern California, dismissing Trump's accusations as baseless. According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), water availability has remained stable, with sufficient supply to meet the needs of 40 million people for a year. The governor's office explained that any issues with water delivery during the firefighting efforts were due to operational logistics, not a lack of resources.
"Tying Bay-Delta management into devastating wildfires that have cost people's lives and homes is nothing short of irresponsible," said Mark Gold, a water scarcity expert and board member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He noted that the current fires are driven by severe winds, dry conditions, and climate change, factors unrelated to water management.
Trump's criticisms included a claim that Newsom's policies had delayed firefighting efforts. However, officials explained that high winds temporarily grounded water-dropping aircraft, a decision unrelated to water availability. The winds, reaching speeds of 80-100 mph, made aerial operations unsafe.
Newsom, in a separate interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, refrained from engaging directly with Trump's accusations but highlighted the human toll of the wildfires. "People are literally fleeing. People have lost their lives. Kids lost their schools. Families completely torn apart. Churches burned down," Newsom said. He praised President Biden for his support, noting that the administration had avoided politicizing the tragedy.
The wildfires have been exacerbated by near-zero rainfall in Southern California, a pattern linked to climate change. Dry conditions and Santa Ana winds have made the region highly vulnerable to fast-moving fires. Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday to mobilize resources and assist affected communities.
The Metropolitan Water District also pushed back against Trump's claims, stating that its water reserves are at historic highs. Most of Los Angeles' water supply comes from local sources, such as the Owens Valley aqueduct, groundwater, and the Colorado River, rather than the Northern California Bay-Delta system Trump referenced.
Political analysts suggest that Trump's comments may be linked to recent changes in water policy. In December, the Biden administration and California officials agreed to new Delta water project rules, which replaced policies enacted under Trump in 2019. The new rules aim to balance water allocations for cities, farms, and ecosystems, including the Delta smelt population.
As the fires continue to rage, the dispute underscores the politicization of natural disasters. Trump's insistence that water management failures caused the fires has drawn criticism from scientists, water experts, and officials, who argue that climate change and extreme weather patterns are the primary drivers.
Meanwhile, emergency crews are battling the flames with thousands of firefighters deployed across the region. President Biden has approved a federal disaster declaration, unlocking additional resources for California.
