Donald Trump tried to warn everyone. He predicted this catastrophe but now it’s too late.
And Trump’s ominous warning was ignored by Democrats and now all hell is breaking loose.
President-elect Donald Trump, poised to begin his second term, has renewed his criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom for what he describes as failed wildfire management policies. This comes years after Trump initially warned Newsom during his first administration, highlighting the state’s recurring wildfire crises.
“The Governor of California, @GavinNewsom, has done a terrible job of forest management. I told him from the first day we met that he must ‘clean’ his forest floors regardless of what his bosses, the environmentalists, DEMAND of him. Must also do burns and cut fire stoppers,” Trump posted to X in 2019 during the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County.
“Every year, as the fire’s rage & California burns, it is the same thing—and then he comes to the Federal Government for $$$ help. No more. Get your act together Governor. You don’t see close to the level of burn in other states,” he added in the same thread.
In response, Newsom, then navigating the state’s ongoing battles with wildfires, framed the crisis as a consequence of climate change. “We’re successfully waging war against thousands of fires started across the state in the last few weeks due to extreme weather created by climate change while Trump is conducting a full on assault against the antidotes,” he said, according to the Washington Post.
Fast forward to 2025, with catastrophic wildfires raging across Los Angeles County, Trump has once again placed blame squarely on Newsom. Days before his inauguration as the 47th president, Trump took to Truth Social to reignite his criticism, specifically referencing Newsom’s environmental policies.
“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump wrote.
“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!”
Newsom’s communications director, Izzy Gardon, refuted Trump’s claims in a statement to Fox Digital, dismissing the so-called “water restoration declaration” as a fabrication. “We’re focused on protecting lives and battling these blazes—not playing politics,” Gardon said, adding that the administration has ensured adequate resources for firefighters.
Trump’s criticism of Newsom is not new. During his first term, the former president repeatedly blasted the governor for what he called poor forest management, even threatening to cut federal funds.
In a 2019 X post, Trump declared: “Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forest fires that, with proper Forest Management, would never happen. Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!”
Newsom and other Leftists have long attributed the state’s intensifying wildfires to climate change, with Newsom dismissing Trump’s focus on forest management. “You don’t believe in climate change. You are excused from this conversation,” Newsom famously replied in 2019.
While Newsom pledged reforms to California’s wildfire prevention strategies in 2019, a 2021 investigation by NPR revealed significant discrepancies between his claims and actual outcomes.
The report found that Newsom overstated the acreage treated with fire prevention measures by nearly 700%. State officials cited challenges posed by the pandemic and an unprecedented wildfire season for the shortfall.
Despite these criticisms, Newsom’s administration points to progress in recent years, including the hiring of 3,000 additional firefighters and the implementation of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, which is reportedly advancing all 99 of its key actions.
Currently, Los Angeles County faces one of its most severe wildfire seasons, with fires devastating the Pacific Palisades, Sylmar, and Pasadena areas. In response, California has deployed extensive resources, including 65 fire engines, seven helicopters, and the National Guard, to combat the flames.
“California has deployed 1400% firefighting personnel & hundreds of propositioned assets to combat these unprecedented fires in LA,” Newsom posted on X. “Emergency officials, firefighters, and first responders are all hands on deck through the night to do everything possible to protect lives.”
As California burns, Trump’s previous warning seems to have unfortunately come true. It’s also an example of the Left being too stubborn in their ways and refusing to listen to people like Donald Trump when there is a clear issue to fix.
Stay tuned to Prudent Politics.
