President-elect Trump criticized California’s response to the wildfires and voiced concern about the rising death toll.
Donald Trump likened the devastation caused by the Southern California wildfires to a nuclear attack, expressing worry about a potential increase in fatalities. He criticized California’s leadership, particularly Governor Gavin Newsom, suggesting that mismanagement worsened the crisis.
The wildfires, which began last week, have resulted in at least 24 deaths, burned over 40,000 acres, and destroyed more than 12,000 structures, leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins.
Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna reported 16 deaths from the Eaton fire and eight from the Palisades fire, with 16 people still missing. Authorities anticipate a higher death toll as search teams continue their efforts.
In a Newsmax interview, Trump predicted the discovery of “many more dead” and expressed astonishment at the destruction’s scale.
“The damage is worse than a nuclear strike. I’ve never seen anything like it. Vast areas are completely burned. There’s nothing left,” Trump stated.
He added that he had seen “very guarded pictures” of the devastation, claiming the reality is “far worse than television depicts.”
Trump blamed California’s leadership, arguing that the crisis could have been avoided with better water management and forest maintenance. He specifically accused Governor Newsom of prioritizing environmental policies over lives and called for his resignation.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering a personal visit to Southern California to assess the damage. In his Newsmax interview, he also expressed interest in participating in the area’s reconstruction, stating that “we’re going to rebuild Los Angeles. I’m already thinking like a developer.”
Newsom declared a state of emergency and requested federal assistance. President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration, enabling federal resources for response and recovery.
AccuWeather estimates the wildfires have caused losses between $250 billion and $275 billion, encompassing property damage, firefighting costs, and economic disruption.