Donald Trump threatens to withhold disaster aid from wildfire-hit Los Angeles as water row erupts
Share:
President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold federal disaster aid for wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles unless California leaders change the state's approach on its management of water. In a Fox News interview, Mr Trump repeated false claims that the state's fish conservation efforts in the northern part of the state are responsible for fire hydrants running dry in urban areas.
![[US-WEATHER-FIRE]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/23/7/26/US-WEATHER-FIRE-dvzcr8eh.jpeg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
He says the blame for Los Angeles' struggles to tame some of the deadly fires lies with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, a political foe who has called for partnership and mutual respect as the state fights the blazes. "I don't think we should give California anything until they let the water run down," Trump said.
Trump made the threat as tens of thousands of people were evacuated as a new wildfire, named the Hughes fire, raged close to Los Angeles. His words also came ahead of a visit to wildfire-devastated Southern California on Friday, in addition to going to western North Carolina, which is recovering after Hurricane Helene hit the area more than three months ago.
In the interview, the president also called for reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, claiming it is "getting in the way of everything". "I'd rather see the states take care of their own problems," he said. He did not elaborate on his proposed reforms, only saying that the agency is "going to be a whole big discussion very shortly".
In other developments for the new administration, Trump met with a small contingent of the most politically endangered House Republicans as the party struggles to agree on a strategy for implementing the tax cuts and other priorities that it promised voters.
