President-elect Donald Trump, along with some social media users and pundits, have placed blame on California Governor Gavin Newsom for the deadly fires in Los Angeles. They argue that Newsom’s environmental policies contributed to the severity and destruction of the blazes. As of January 12, authorities have reported at least 16 deaths, over 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres) burned, and numerous structures damaged or destroyed.
Trump and others have reposted his previous criticisms of California’s forest management policies, including false statements he made during previous wildfire incidents. It is not uncommon for Trump to make misleading claims about his political opponents during natural disasters, as seen in his false statements about Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
As the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires continue to deal with the aftermath, we fact-checked these viral claims to determine the role, if any, that California’s water policy and forest management played in the disaster. Trump’s assertion about California’s water policy, specifically regarding Newsom’s alleged refusal to sign a “water restoration declaration,” was debunked by experts who stated that the local water shortages were due to infrastructure limitations, not statewide water management plans.
Furthermore, Trump’s claims about forest management contributing to the wildfires were also scrutinized. Although he has previously blamed Newsom for failing to properly manage the state’s forests, experts noted that the wildfire response was hindered by dry conditions, high winds, and local infrastructure inadequacies, not forest management policies.
In conclusion, while Trump and others have attempted to attribute the wildfires to Newsom’s policies, experts have refuted these claims, highlighting the complex factors that contributed to the severity of the fires in Los Angeles. It is crucial to accurately assess the causes of natural disasters in order to effectively prevent and mitigate future crises.