During LA fires visit, Trump, a longtime antagonist of California, offered praise for the state
Trump's visit to Los Angeles featured a mix of camaraderie and tension with the Democratic leaders of the state.
TroibNews 
**LOS ANGELES** — President Donald Trump began his day of disaster tours in a tumultuous manner, issuing threats that left California officials in a panic. By the end of the day, however, he shared a hug with Governor Gavin Newsom and committed to assisting the Golden State's recovery.
Their tarmac meeting, characterized by a show of camaraderie, set a somber yet cooperative tone for a briefing that included local, state, and federal officials. During this meeting, Trump opted to avoid his typical sharp criticisms and instead pledged to support the recovery efforts, including the waiver of federal permitting requirements. There was a brief confrontation with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass regarding the timeline for allowing residents back into their homes, but Trump mostly refrained from defending conservative viewpoints that opposed liberal environmental policies.
“There can be no Golden Age without the Golden State. It's a great state. It's a fantastic place,” Trump stated later in the day during the Los Angeles briefing, highlighting his role in bringing the World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic Games in 2028 to the city. “We're going to have a big celebration soon. We're going to come back, and we'll come back as much as you need, and we're going to turn it around.”
Trump's visits to North Carolina and California showcased his unpredictable nature. While he thrives on provoking opponents from afar, he seems less inclined to confront them directly, especially in the aftermath of a crisis. This behavior also highlighted how Democrats, who typically seize opportunities to distance themselves from Trump, now view the recovery of the state as dependent on his cooperation.
Though California officials don't anticipate a lasting truce from Trump's three hours on the ground, the visit marked a shift in atmosphere from earlier in the day. Just hours before, Trump had indicated that he might withhold federal disaster aid unless Newsom implemented voter ID laws at polls and agreed to his demands regarding water management in Northern California. This suggestion ignited anger among state officials and lawmakers. By the time he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, Trump had seemingly abandoned his attempts at negotiating conditions for aid.
Newsom, who previously criticized Trump’s statements about the wildfires, spoke with Trump for the first time since 2020 during their encounter on the tarmac. They have clashed on numerous issues over the years, with Newsom often serving as a leading voice for Democratic criticism during the 2024 presidential campaign. However, they have also found ways to collaborate during times of crisis. “We’re going to need your help,” Newsom told Trump, reminding him of his support during the COVID-19 pandemic. “You were there for us during Covid. I don’t forget that, and I have all the expectations that we’ll be able to work together to get this speedy recovery.”
After fielding questions from reporters, the two agreed to continue their discussion privately.
Their cordiality proceeded into the briefing, where Trump, who previously criticized California and its Democratic politicians in the wake of the wildfires, acknowledged that he hadn’t fully grasped the magnitude of the disaster until he witnessed it firsthand. “I don't think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating it is, until you see it. I didn't realize. I mean, I saw a lot of bad things on television, but the extent of it, the size of it … it is devastation. It's incredible.”
Addressing local officials—whom he described as “great California leaders, both Democrat and Republican”—Trump asserted, “the federal government is standing behind you 100 percent” and expressed his “great love” for the state, which has frequently taken an aggressive stance against him.
The positive atmosphere did not completely erase underlying tensions. The most confrontational moment occurred when Trump and Bass discussed the timeline for homeowners to obtain necessary permits for rebuilding. While Trump insisted on waiving all “federal permits,” Bass, who had taken action to expedite recovery, indicated that thorough cleanup of hazardous waste was essential. “What's hazardous waste? We're going to have to define that, we're going to go through a whole series of questions on determining what's a hazard,” Trump argued. Bass firmly responded, “And we will.”
Despite their friction, the exchange concluded on a conciliatory note, with Trump offering assistance to Bass in any capacity needed.
The briefing included conservative voices who critiqued California’s insurance policies and management of brush that contributes to major wildfires. Joel Pollak, a Breitbart News writer, shared his family's frightening experience with a recent fire, pushing Trump to appoint a “special master” to oversee state spending related to the disaster.
Although Trump briefly acknowledged the Coastal Commission, which governs coastal development, he largely ignored provocations from the panel. He did, however, emphasize California’s water issues, a frequent topic of his. While not directly relevant to the current wildfires, he incorrectly addressed the policies affecting water distribution, reminiscing about his travels to drought-stricken farmland. He stated, “I don't know what's controversial about sending millions and millions of gallons of beautiful fresh water from the Pacific Northwest… into an area that's bone dry,” adding, “I hope you can all get together and say, ‘I'm so happy with the water that's going to be flowing down.’”
Trump reserved his strongest criticisms for FEMA, the federal disaster management agency. After suggesting it should be disbanded during his earlier visit to North Carolina, he remarked, “When we ran it, FEMA was very good, but now FEMA is not good.”
This prompted backlash from Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat whose district was severely affected by the Palisades Fire. “I don't know how they're doing in other states. They're doing a good job for us,” Sherman countered. The two engaged in a heated exchange regarding insurance companies abandoning California, providing one of the day's more contentious moments, which Trump’s team later highlighted on social media.
"You did something, Brad, where every insurance company in the country left California,” Trump claimed. “That's why you have no insurance ... people that think like you made it so impossible.”
After Trump departed for Nevada, Sherman offered a mixed assessment of the visit, saying, "The President made a number of comments. Some helpful, some not so helpful."
Camille von Kaenel, Blanca Begert, and Dasha Burns contributed to this report.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
Their tarmac meeting, characterized by a show of camaraderie, set a somber yet cooperative tone for a briefing that included local, state, and federal officials. During this meeting, Trump opted to avoid his typical sharp criticisms and instead pledged to support the recovery efforts, including the waiver of federal permitting requirements. There was a brief confrontation with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass regarding the timeline for allowing residents back into their homes, but Trump mostly refrained from defending conservative viewpoints that opposed liberal environmental policies.
“There can be no Golden Age without the Golden State. It's a great state. It's a fantastic place,” Trump stated later in the day during the Los Angeles briefing, highlighting his role in bringing the World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic Games in 2028 to the city. “We're going to have a big celebration soon. We're going to come back, and we'll come back as much as you need, and we're going to turn it around.”
Trump's visits to North Carolina and California showcased his unpredictable nature. While he thrives on provoking opponents from afar, he seems less inclined to confront them directly, especially in the aftermath of a crisis. This behavior also highlighted how Democrats, who typically seize opportunities to distance themselves from Trump, now view the recovery of the state as dependent on his cooperation.
Though California officials don't anticipate a lasting truce from Trump's three hours on the ground, the visit marked a shift in atmosphere from earlier in the day. Just hours before, Trump had indicated that he might withhold federal disaster aid unless Newsom implemented voter ID laws at polls and agreed to his demands regarding water management in Northern California. This suggestion ignited anger among state officials and lawmakers. By the time he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport, Trump had seemingly abandoned his attempts at negotiating conditions for aid.
Newsom, who previously criticized Trump’s statements about the wildfires, spoke with Trump for the first time since 2020 during their encounter on the tarmac. They have clashed on numerous issues over the years, with Newsom often serving as a leading voice for Democratic criticism during the 2024 presidential campaign. However, they have also found ways to collaborate during times of crisis. “We’re going to need your help,” Newsom told Trump, reminding him of his support during the COVID-19 pandemic. “You were there for us during Covid. I don’t forget that, and I have all the expectations that we’ll be able to work together to get this speedy recovery.”
After fielding questions from reporters, the two agreed to continue their discussion privately.
Their cordiality proceeded into the briefing, where Trump, who previously criticized California and its Democratic politicians in the wake of the wildfires, acknowledged that he hadn’t fully grasped the magnitude of the disaster until he witnessed it firsthand. “I don't think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating it is, until you see it. I didn't realize. I mean, I saw a lot of bad things on television, but the extent of it, the size of it … it is devastation. It's incredible.”
Addressing local officials—whom he described as “great California leaders, both Democrat and Republican”—Trump asserted, “the federal government is standing behind you 100 percent” and expressed his “great love” for the state, which has frequently taken an aggressive stance against him.
The positive atmosphere did not completely erase underlying tensions. The most confrontational moment occurred when Trump and Bass discussed the timeline for homeowners to obtain necessary permits for rebuilding. While Trump insisted on waiving all “federal permits,” Bass, who had taken action to expedite recovery, indicated that thorough cleanup of hazardous waste was essential. “What's hazardous waste? We're going to have to define that, we're going to go through a whole series of questions on determining what's a hazard,” Trump argued. Bass firmly responded, “And we will.”
Despite their friction, the exchange concluded on a conciliatory note, with Trump offering assistance to Bass in any capacity needed.
The briefing included conservative voices who critiqued California’s insurance policies and management of brush that contributes to major wildfires. Joel Pollak, a Breitbart News writer, shared his family's frightening experience with a recent fire, pushing Trump to appoint a “special master” to oversee state spending related to the disaster.
Although Trump briefly acknowledged the Coastal Commission, which governs coastal development, he largely ignored provocations from the panel. He did, however, emphasize California’s water issues, a frequent topic of his. While not directly relevant to the current wildfires, he incorrectly addressed the policies affecting water distribution, reminiscing about his travels to drought-stricken farmland. He stated, “I don't know what's controversial about sending millions and millions of gallons of beautiful fresh water from the Pacific Northwest… into an area that's bone dry,” adding, “I hope you can all get together and say, ‘I'm so happy with the water that's going to be flowing down.’”
Trump reserved his strongest criticisms for FEMA, the federal disaster management agency. After suggesting it should be disbanded during his earlier visit to North Carolina, he remarked, “When we ran it, FEMA was very good, but now FEMA is not good.”
This prompted backlash from Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat whose district was severely affected by the Palisades Fire. “I don't know how they're doing in other states. They're doing a good job for us,” Sherman countered. The two engaged in a heated exchange regarding insurance companies abandoning California, providing one of the day's more contentious moments, which Trump’s team later highlighted on social media.
"You did something, Brad, where every insurance company in the country left California,” Trump claimed. “That's why you have no insurance ... people that think like you made it so impossible.”
After Trump departed for Nevada, Sherman offered a mixed assessment of the visit, saying, "The President made a number of comments. Some helpful, some not so helpful."
Camille von Kaenel, Blanca Begert, and Dasha Burns contributed to this report.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
