In a recent viral clip from an October interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, President-elect Donald Trump highlighted California’s wildfire challenges months before the devastating infernos engulfed parts of Los Angeles this week.
Trump, 78, criticized California’s water management policies and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s leadership during the podcast, particularly targeting the state’s handling of natural resources. His remarks have resurfaced as fires claim lives, destroy homes, and force thousands to flee.
Trump’s Interview
In the interview, Trump pointed to California’s water mismanagement, blaming policies that prioritize environmental protections over practical needs. “In Los Angeles, you can’t get proper amounts of water,” Trump stated.
“Millions and millions of gallons are diverted into the Pacific Ocean to save a tiny little fish,” he said, referring to smelt conservation efforts. He added that this water could be redirected to combat fires and support farmers.
Trump criticized Newsom for blocking a federal water restoration initiative he proposed in 2020, which aimed to redirect northern water supplies to southern farmers. “I got it all done.
Nobody could believe it … You’ve got so much water. All you have to do is sign, and [Gavin Newsom] didn’t want to sign,” he remarked, asserting that the governor failed to act on the opportunity.
For years, Trump has been vocal about California’s wildfire management issues, repeatedly warning state leaders to focus on removing underbrush and dead trees that fuel fires.
“The Governor of California, @GavinNewsom, has done a terrible job of forest management,” Trump tweeted in 2019 during the Kincade Fire. “I told him from the first day we met that he must ‘clean’ his forest floors… Must also do burns and cut fire stoppers.”
While it remains unclear whether inadequate forest management contributed to the current fires, Trump’s longstanding warnings about California’s fire risks and water policies have reignited public debate. His supporters have praised him for “sounding the alarm,” while others continue to scrutinize the effectiveness of his solutions.
