In a post on Truth Social, Trump's social media platform, the former president stated that Governor Newsom had refused to approve a plan that would have allowed billions of gallons of water to flow into California, potentially helping to fight the fires. The water, which would have been sourced from excess rain and snowmelt in the North, could have been directed to areas currently struggling with the blaze. According to Trump, Newsom’s decision to block this water supply was made in order to protect a species of fish, the smelt, which he referred to as “worthless.”
Trump’s criticisms extended beyond water supply issues. He claimed that Newsom’s actions left fire hydrants without water and firefighting planes unavailable, further hindering efforts to contain the wildfires. In his post, he stated, “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.”
The ongoing wildfires have forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes, and fire officials are working around the clock to contain the blazes. While some regions have been able to manage the fires, others are experiencing rapid growth due to the extreme weather conditions. Trump’s accusations come amid a larger debate about water management in California, which has long struggled with balancing environmental concerns, agriculture, and water supply for firefighting.
Governor Newsom has yet to respond publicly to Trump’s accusations, but the focus remains on the immediate response to the wildfires. Firefighting crews, emergency responders, and local officials continue to work tirelessly to protect communities and mitigate the damage, as the state grapples with the devastating impact of the fires. The long-term consequences of the wildfires are still unclear, but the political fallout from Trump’s remarks could add fuel to ongoing debates about the state’s environmental and water management policies.