President Donald Trump Spars With Los Angeles Mayor At Wildfire Briefing
on Jan 24, 2025
Table of Contents
- President Donald Trump traveled to Los Angeles on Friday, where he visited fire-ravaged parts of the city and met with city officials, including Mayor Karen Bass.
- Donald and Melania Trump sat down for a roundtable discussion with city officials at the Pacific Palisades fire department.
- The wildfires that began on January 7, 2024, are slowly being contained.
- President Trump promised federal help.
President Donald Trump traveled to Los Angeles on Friday, where he visited fire-ravaged parts of the city and met with city officials, including Mayor Karen Bass.
Upon landing in Los Angeles, President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, were greeted by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump and Newsom vowed to work together to help those affected by the fires, despite their political differences.
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Their meeting was reportedly cordial even though Trump has been a vocal critic of Newsom, even blaming him for the fires that have caused an estimated $250 billion in damage.
After speaking briefly with the press, the president, first lady, and governor took an aerial tour of the areas affected by the fires.
President Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom meet upon Trump's arrival in California.
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 24, 2025
Trump: "I appreciate the Governor coming out and meeting me."
Newsom: "Thank you for being here…We're going to need your support. We're going to need your help." pic.twitter.com/YbIyXChUWh
Donald and Melania Trump sat down for a roundtable discussion with city officials at the Pacific Palisades fire department.
In a moment that is garnering a lot of attention, President Trump sparred with Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass over allowing residents to return to their homes.
Trump urged the mayor to expedite the process to allow residents to return home and start cleaning up. Residents complained that they can’t return without permits, some that may take up to 18 months to be issued.
Bass told those in attendance that she thinks they’ll be able to return “within a week.”
“That’s a long time, a week. To be honest, everyone standing in front of their house, they want to go to work and they are not allowed to do it,” Trump said.
Bass expressed safety concerns, to which Trump argued:
“They’re safe. They’re safe. You know what? They’re not safe now. They’re going to be much safer. A week is actually a long time, the way I look at it. I watched hundreds of people, standing in front of their lot, and they’re not allowed to go in. It’s all burned. It’s gone. It’s done. It’s not going to burn anymore. There’s nothing to burn. There’s almost nothing to burn. And they want to go in there.”
Bass doubled down on her stance, saying that hazardous waste had to be removed before people could return. The president challenged her statement and reiterated that homeowners need to be allowed back to their property to begin cleanup.
Exchange between President Trump and Los Angeles Mayor Bass on rebuilding.
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 25, 2025
Trump: "They should be able to start tonight."
Bass: "You know first we have to take care…getting rid of the hazardous waste…"
Trump: "You mentioned hazardous waste…What’s hazardous waste?" pic.twitter.com/NZiJy6WhCe
The wildfires that began on January 7, 2024, are slowly being contained.
As of press time, more than 15,000 structures were destroyed and 28 residents have died as a result of the wildfires that were fueled by the powerful Santa Ana winds.
The Palisades Fire has burned 23,448 acres and is 77% contained. The Eaton Fire has burned 14,021 acres and is 95% contained, according to Cal Fire. Combined, the fires have burned more than 40,000 acres.
There is some relief in sight as the area is expected to receive such much-needed rain over the weekend.
President Trump promised federal help.
Donald Trump told Los Angeles residents that federal help was on the way. He declared a national emergency which allowed him to give homeowners immediate permits. He urged local officials to do the same and get residents permits as quickly as possible.
“We are waving the federal permits,” the president said. “We’re either waving them or giving them to you so rapidly it’s going to essentially be the same thing.”
Trump also promised federal assistance and resources, and added that he is signing an executive order to “open up the pumps and valves in the north. We want to get that water pouring down here as quickly as possible.”
If you would like to contribute to rebuilding efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future wildfires in California, click HERE.
Watch Donald Trump’s full roundtable meeting with California leadership in the video below.
