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Donald Trump has slammed Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom for their handling of the devastating California wildfires, stressing mismanagement of water resources.
Donald Trump (L)/Joe Biden (R) (Photos: PTI)
US-President elect Donald Trump has blamed outgoing President Joe Biden for the California wildfires that killed at least five people and ravaged some of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in Los Angeles. Trump, slamming Joe Biden, also said this was what the latter was leaving him with.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump also slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom, asserting that “zero per cent” of the wildfires had been contained.
“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump wrote.
“He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn’t work!), but didn’t care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!” (sic), he added.
“As of this moment, Gavin Newscum and his Los Angeles crew have contained exactly ZERO percent of the fire. It is burning at levels that even surpass last night. This is not Government. I can’t wait till January 20th!” Trump wrote.
“NO WATER IN THE FIRE HYDRANTS, NO MONEY IN FEMA. THIS IS WHAT JOE BIDEN IS LEAVING ME. THANKS JOE!” (sic) Trump’s post read.
“The fires in Los Angeles may go down, in dollar amount, as the worst in the History of our Country. In many circles, they’re doubting whether insurance companies will even have enough money to pay for this catastrophe. Let this serve, and be emblematic, of the gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo. January 20th cannot come fast enough!” it read.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
More than 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate as the raging wildfires surrounding Los Angeles destroyed hundreds of homes, stretching firefighting resources and water supplies to the limit.
Fierce winds hindered firefighting operations and fueled the fires, which have burned unimpeded since they began on Tuesday.
Five separate fires burned in Los Angeles County, all of them 0% contained according to state officials, including a pair of conflagrations that held the city in a pincer move.
On the west side, the Palisades Fire consumed 15,832 acres (6,406 hectares) and 1,000 structures in the hills between Santa Monica and Malibu, racing down Topanga Canyon until reaching the natural fire break of the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday. It was already one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history.
To the east, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Eaton Fire claimed another 10,600 acres (4,289 hectares) and killed at least five people, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told KNX radio. Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated initial damage and economic loss at more than $50 billion.