Trump Slams California Officials As Wildfires Continue to Ravage Los Angeles

United States President-elect, Donald Trump, has sharply criticized California officials, accusing them of incompetence in managing the deadly wildfires currently ravaging Los Angeles.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump expressed frustration with the state’s firefighting efforts and overall preparedness.

“The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols (politicians) have no idea how to put them out,” Trump wrote.

He described the crisis as “one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our country,” adding, “They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”

The wildfires have already claimed at least 16 lives, displaced 150,000 residents, and destroyed over 12,000 structures, according to state officials. The rapid spread and intensity of the blazes have overwhelmed firefighting resources, exposing vulnerabilities in California’s disaster response systems.

In one of the fire zones, the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, water hydrants ran dry, leaving firefighters struggling to contain the blaze. Water shortages also exacerbated firefighting efforts in other areas, further intensifying the destruction.

Governor Gavin Newsom, who is a frequent target of Trump’s criticism, extended an invitation for the president-elect to visit Los Angeles and assess the damage firsthand. However, Trump continued to blame Newsom for what he called “systemic failings in the state’s wildfire response.”

In one post, Trump emphasized the scale of the disaster: “Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place.”

Despite heroic efforts by firefighters, including aerial operations to combat the flames, the Palisades Fire continued to advance toward the Getty Center, an art museum housing invaluable collections, and pushed northward into the densely populated San Fernando Valley.

As California battles the relentless fires, questions about the state’s disaster preparedness and the role of climate change in exacerbating wildfire risks continue to arise.

With just over a week until Trump’s return to the White House, his remarks have added political fuel to an already dire situation.