President Trump sees America not as the United States, but the states who are for him, and those against.
California is overwhelmingly Democratic, so today he threatened to cut federal funding for the numerous devastating wildfires burning throughout the state, blaming Gov. Gavin Newson for failing to prevent the natural disasters.
‘The Governor of California, @GavinNewsom, has done a terrible job of forest management. I told him from the first day we met that he must “clean” the forest floors regardless of what his bosses, the environmentalists, DEMAND of him,’ Trump wrote.
However, neither of the two massive wildfires currently burning in California – the Maria Fire north of Los Angeles or the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County – are on forest land.
He added that he wanted to give the state ‘no more’ help and withhold federal financial aid.
Newsom hit back this morning slamming the president saying: ‘You don’t believe in climate change. You are excused from this conversation.’
‘We’re successfully waging war against thousands of fires started across the state in the last few weeks due to extreme weather created by climate change while Trump is conducting a full on assault against the antidotes,’ Newsom added.
Although Trump has repeatedly blamed California officials for the state’s fires and forest mismanagement, most of the state’s forests are actually owned and managed by federal agencies.
Federal agencies manage 57% of the 33 million acres of forest in the Golden State.
Scientists have noted that climate change has contributed to the ferocity of wildfires, which have grown in frequency and power over the past couple of years.
Hotter temperatures lead to drier, more fire-prone land, meaning blazes are more likely to occur.
In California specifically warm-season days have increased by 2.5 degrees since the early 1970s, according to a Earth’s Future study.
Scientists have also said that California’s forestry management isn’t the only thing that can mitigate wildfires. Climate change as well as human factors like downed power lines and homes built too close together in rural areas also contribute to the blazes.
Last year’s Camp Fire – which was the deadliest and more destructive in California history claiming 85 lives – was sparked by equipment operated by utility company Pacific Gas & electric.
At the moment several of the largest wildfires this season aren’t even burning in forests.
The Getty Fire and Easy Fire broke out near Los Angeles in brush-filled hillsides.
Wildfire burns near the Ronald Reagan presidential library.