SACRAMENTO, California— Gavin Newsom is staying in California to respond to the fires that are raging through Los Angeles, canceling a trip to Washington for former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, the governor’s office announced Wednesday morning.
There are three main conflagrations — the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires. Together, they have scorched over 5,000 acres in Los Angeles County, and put tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders. Two people have died, according to officials.
The fires puts a renewed spotlight on the Democratic governor as he considers a potential White House run in 2028 and has become a kind of standard bearer for the second Trump resistance. President-elect Donald Trump slammed Newsom on his social media site Truth Social Wednesday morning, blaming the state’s water policies for the fires.
“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 to blame for this,” Trump posted.