US President-elect Donald Trump criticized California officials on Sunday for their handling of the deadly wildfires surrounding Los Angeles, labelling them incompetent on his Truth Social platform. “The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent politicians have no idea how to put them out,” Trump stated.
He expressed severe dismay at the ongoing crisis, describing it as “one of the worst catastrophes in our country’s history. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”
The wildfires have challenged Los Angeles’ firefighting capabilities, intensifying scrutiny of the state’s readiness. In the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, hydrants ran dry amid one of the region’s five major fires, exacerbating the situation as water shortages hindered firefighting efforts across other areas.
As Trump prepares to return to the White House in just over a week, he has issued several unsubstantiated accusations against California’s Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, for his handling of the fire crisis. Meanwhile, Newsom has invited Trump to visit Los Angeles and assess the damage firsthand.
The wildfires have claimed at least 16 lives, displaced 150,000 people, and destroyed over 12,000 structures, state officials report. Trump highlighted the severity of the situation in his post: “Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place.”
Read: $2.04 Billion Lottery Winner’s Mansion Destroyed in Palisades Fire
Despite the valiant efforts of firefighters, including targeted aerial operations, the Palisades Fire continues its destructive path eastward toward the invaluable art collections at the Getty Center and northward into the densely populated San Fernando Valley.
