A tale of two presidents: How L.A. fires show the difference between Biden and Trump

Gavin Newsom, middle, and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla attend a briefing in Santa Monica on the L.A. County fires on Jan. 8, 2025. “I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA!” The morning missive from the president-elect, as communities burned and thousands of people fled their homes, echoed his prior threats to withhold wildfire funding if Newsom declined to go along with Trump’s water policy for California. Though Newsom praised Trump during his first term for approving federal disaster funding for wildfires, the governor has since said he had to “kiss the ring” to convince Trump to help. 🇺🇸 Presidential Major Disaster Declaration 💧 5 @ForestService Large Air Tankers 🚁 10 Federal Helicopters 🚒 Dozens of @ForestService Fire Engines 🧑‍🚒 Backup via @DeptofDefense pic.twitter.com/LLQh7SrMsF — Governor Newsom January 8, 2025 Presidents have wide discretion when it comes to disaster aid, which could be in jeopardy in the future if Trump follows through with his threats after his inauguration. THANKS JOE!” Peter Gleick, a hydroclimatologist and senior fellow of the Oakland-based Pacific Institute, said Trump’s comments attempting to link California water policy with the water-supply problems facing firefighters in Southern California were “blatantly false, irresponsible and politically self-serving.” “There is no water shortage in Southern California — the state’s reservoirs are all at, or above, levels normally expected for this time of year.