President Trump heads to California Friday to survey wildfire devastation in his first trip of the new term, targeting Democratic leaders he blames for the persistent blazes. He’s tied federal aid to changes in water policies, criticizing protections for the Delta smelt as a roadblock to firefighting efforts.
Before leaving, Trump said the fires “should have been put out” and slammed FEMA for “letting the country down,” hinting at reforms to shift disaster response to states.
Trump’s whirlwind day includes stops in North Carolina, recovering from Hurricane Helene, and Nevada, where he plans to “thank them for the vote.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a frequent Trump critic, said he plans to meet the president on the tarmac despite their clashes.
