The president-elect also alleged that Newsom prioritized the protection of the Delta smelt, a small endangered fish species residing in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, over the well-being of Californians with his water policies. “Now the ultimate price is being paid,” Trump stated. “I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to flow into California! He is to blame for this.”
In 2019, the Trump Administration unveiled a new plan aimed at increasing water extraction from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to cater to local farms. Some officials and environmentalists raised concerns that the new regulations could heighten the risk of extinction for species like salmon, smelt, and steelhead, as reported by Cal Matters. Federal and state authorities in California introduced fresh guidelines last month for the operation of two water distribution systems, according to the outlet. These regulations pertain to two projects responsible for transporting water from Northern California to the southern regions of the state.
Responding swiftly to Trump’s accusations, Newsom’s office dismissed the claims. Izzy Gardon, Newsom’s communications director, clarified in a statement to USA TODAY that “There is no such document as the water restoration declaration – that is pure fiction.” Gardon emphasized, “The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need.”
Newsom’s office disclosed the cancellation of a trip to Washington for former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral to address the fire situation. However, Trump wasn’t alone in criticizing Newsom during this period. Billionaire Elon Musk targeted California’s state regulations in a post on X, asserting, “These fires are easily avoidable, but nonsense regulations in California prevent action being taken, so year after year homes burn down and more people die.”
The White House confirmed that President Biden is scheduled to receive a briefing from CalFire officials regarding the wildfire at a Santa Monica Fire Station. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy serves as a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY. For more insights, you can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: California wildfires: Donald Trump, Gavin Newsom clash over disaster.