President Donald Trump is set to visit Los Angeles on Friday to assess the destruction caused by wildfires, marking the latest chapter in his ongoing clash with California Governor Gavin Newsom over disaster management, water policies, and federal aid. The visit, which follows a stop in hurricane-ravaged North Carolina, comes as Trump has made controversial remarks suggesting conditions for California's federal disaster assistance.
In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity earlier this week, Trump criticized both California's water policies and voter ID laws, tying them to his willingness to provide federal disaster relief. "I want to see two things in Los Angeles, voter ID, so that the people have a chance to vote, and I want to see the water be released and come down into Los Angeles and the state. Those are the two things," Trump said, referring to his claims that state water policies restrict the flow of water to Southern California.
Governor Newsom responded sharply to Trump's comments. In a statement on X, Newsom's office declared, "Conditioning aid for American citizens is wrong." California law already requires voters to be U.S. citizens and provide identification such as a driver's license or passport when registering to vote, the governor's office noted.
The feud between the White House and California over water policy has been ongoing. Trump has claimed that environmental protections, such as those for the endangered delta smelt, have hindered the flow of water from Northern to Southern California. Environmental experts, however, dispute these assertions. Ashley Overhouse, a water policy adviser for Defenders of Wildlife, stated that even the strictest regulations during the Obama administration impacted water flow by only 1.2%.
In addition to water policies, Trump's visit to Los Angeles is expected to highlight his criticism of federal disaster management. On a stop in North Carolina earlier Friday, Trump floated the idea of eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which he called "not good" and "a disaster." Speaking in Asheville, Trump proposed shifting responsibility for disaster response directly to state governments and bypassing FEMA altogether. "I think we're going to recommend that FEMA go away," Trump said, though shuttering the agency would require congressional approval.
Trump's remarks come after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of western North Carolina in September, killing 42 people and causing an estimated $50 billion in damage. During his visit, Trump met with affected families and received a briefing on the ongoing recovery efforts. The president has blamed FEMA's inefficiency for delays in disaster response, calling for reforms that would give governors more control over federal disaster funds.
Meanwhile, California has made strides to address wildfire prevention and management. On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, designed to enhance forest management and prevent future catastrophic wildfires. The bill includes provisions to improve post-fire recovery, expedite environmental reviews for forest management, and establish an interagency center to assist state and local governments.
Despite these legislative efforts, Trump has repeatedly criticized California's forest management practices. In the past, he has claimed that poor management is a significant factor in the state's wildfire crises, an assertion that experts argue oversimplifies the problem. Wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and other parts of Southern California have continued to burn, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive solutions.
Trump's visit to Los Angeles will include a tour of wildfire-affected areas in Pacific Palisades. Newsom has indicated that he will meet the president at the airport, even as tensions between the two leaders remain high.
