President Donald Trump joined a delegation of elected officials and political appointees for a briefing in Los Angeles on Jan. 24 regarding destructive wildfires in the region over the past weeks.
In Marine One, the presidential helicopter, Trump flew over multiple fire-ravaged communities before landing in the neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, where the first of two deadly fires in the region started on Jan. 7.
“It is devastation. It really is an incineration,” Trump said.
Trump said he would work with California Gov. Gavin Newsom to assist fire victims and urged local officials to allow evacuees to quickly return to their homes. He also called for expediting the permitting process so residents can immediately rebuild.
The president promised to support Southern California during the rebuilding process.
“They’re going to need a lot of federal help,” he said during remarks on the tarmac after arriving. “Unless you don’t need any, which would be OK.”
More than 16,000 structures were destroyed, and at least 28 deaths have been attributed to the infernos, according to statistics from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Newsom greeted the president outside of Air Force One and thanked him for visiting the state during such troubling times.
“We welcome President Trump to California with an open hand,” Newsom said in a statement. “Just as President Trump supported California during the pandemic, we will work together again for firestorm survivors and communities across Los Angeles who deserve all the help they can get from federal, state, and local governments.”
The governor said the state, in partnership with the federal government, is working to secure the safety of residents affected by fires.
According to Cal Fire, the Eaton Fire is 95 percent contained, and 9,418 structures have been destroyed, 1,073 have been damaged, 17 civilians have died, and nine injuries have been sustained by firefighters.
Do not drink orders are in effect for the region and are expected to continue for two more weeks.
The Palisades Fire scorched some of the world’s most expensive real estate, destroying nearly 7,000 structures, damaging about 1,000, and claiming 11 lives. The blaze is 77 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
State Sen. Brian Jones, a Republican and the minority leader in the state Senate, joined the president and the governor for a roundtable discussion regarding fire prevention and recovery efforts.
“I was grateful to join President Trump for a robust discussion about the devastating damage caused by the LA fires and how we will move forward with rebuilding,” Jones said in a statement.
“On behalf of Senate Republicans and all Californians, I emphasize the importance of collaboration between the President and elected officials to deliver the urgent support our state needs, from critical disaster relief to meaningful policy changes that will help fix California and get us back on track.”
After departing California, Trump vowed to sign an executive order that directs California to maximize water management efficiencies by limiting the amount of water released into the Pacific Ocean.
The president has repeatedly criticized California’s policies, which he has said prioritize fish over people and leave the state in need of water during dry months.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said residents should be able to return home within the week, but keeping people safe from hazardous materials is a top priority.
Earlier on Jan. 24, Trump told reporters in North Carolina that he had two requirements for California officials before he would provide federal support to wildfire-devastated areas. One was voter ID, and the other was more water from northern California released to Los Angeles and other parts of the state.
The president also floated the idea of “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“FEMA has been a very big disappointment,“ he said. “It’s very bureaucratic. And it’s very slow.”
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
