California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing harsh criticism after posting an Instagram Story showing him at the scene of the devastating Palisades Fire, which has displaced thousands in Los Angeles County. Accusations of using the tragedy for a “photo op” have sparked backlash from conservatives and political opponents alike.
Critics pounce on Newsom’s response
The controversial “Libs of TikTok” account led the charge, writing, “Gavin Newsom has arrived for the photo op of him watching his state burn to the ground.” Popular conservative account Breaking 911 joined in, posting, “JUST IN: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has showed up to the scene of the Palisades fire to put his hands in his back pockets.”
Others highlighted long-standing grievances over California’s infrastructure projects. Radio host Ari Hoffman reminded voters of a ballot measure from a decade ago, saying, “California voters approved a ballot measure to have more water storage built & Gavin Newsom still hasn’t done it. As a result, millions of gallons of snow melt and rain pour into the Pacific Ocean.”
Trump blames Newsom for wildfires
Former President Donald Trump, who has a history of criticizing Newsom’s wildfire management, added fuel to the fire. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration… Now the ultimate price is being paid. He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt… No water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!”
Trump’s statement comes as at least four wildfires rage across Los Angeles County, including the Pacific Palisades and Sylmar neighborhoods, threatening swanky homes and forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate.
Newsom declares a state of emergency
Governor Newsom, who declared a state of emergency Tuesday, addressed the rapidly growing Palisades Fire in a statement: “This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk – and we’re not out of the woods. Our deepest thanks go to our expert firefighters and first responders.”
However, his critics remained unmoved. Trump’s post further echoed past remarks, including a 2018 threat to withhold federal funding unless California improved its forest management. At the time, Trump declared, “There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor.”
The climate debate
Newsom and Democrats continue to attribute California’s wildfires to climate change, with Newsom previously dismissing Trump’s attacks, saying in 2019, “You don’t believe in climate change. You are excused from this conversation.”