Trump Ignores Newsom Before Trip to California
This occurs during a congressional impasse regarding the stipulation of federal disaster aid for the state.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump is set to visit Los Angeles on Friday to assess the destruction caused by severe wildfires, accompanied by nearly a dozen local elected officials, but he will not be joined by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
This decision marks a significant snub toward Newsom, with whom Trump has had a contentious relationship, particularly in light of ongoing congressional negotiations that involve conditions on federal disaster aid for the state.
Among those expected to attend a briefing with Trump on Friday afternoon are Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who has faced intense criticism related to the wildfires, as well as eight California congressional representatives. Richard Grenell, the presidential envoy for special missions, and First Lady Melania Trump will also be present, but Newsom will not.
On Thursday, Newsom indicated that he had not yet received any communication from the president regarding the wildfire tour, but mentioned he would still go to Los Angeles International Airport to provide a traditional welcome. Since Trump left office in 2020, the two have not conversed, and Trump has not responded to Newsom’s recent attempts to reach out.
“I look forward to being there on the tarmac to thank the president, welcome him, and we’re making sure that all the resources he needs for a successful briefing are provided to him,” Newsom stated. “There’s no limit to the resources we’ll provide for that briefing.” A spokesperson for Newsom reiterated this message on Friday.
The presence of Bass is particularly noteworthy, given the backlash she has faced, including criticism from Trump regarding an overseas trip she took just as the fires began. Trump accused her of "gross incompetence" in a post on Truth Social.
Trump's visit will kick off with a survey of the damage in Pacific Palisades, a wealthy Los Angeles neighborhood that has suffered from a nearly 25,000-acre wildfire. He will then participate in an emergency briefing on the situation with Bass and several Republican and Democratic representatives, including Jay Olbernolte, Vince Fong, Kevin Kiley, Darrell Issa, Young Kim, Tom McClintock, George Whitesides, and Brad Sherman. Also in attendance will be Randy Moore, chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and Ed Ring, director of water and energy policy at the California Policy Center.
“We're gonna have a very interesting time,” Trump told reporters before his departure from the White House on Friday morning.
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, a vocal critic of Trump, will not be participating in the wildfire-related events due to ongoing Senate confirmation hearings in Washington. When questioned about his invitation to Schiff, whom he has previously disparaged by calling him “scum,” Trump replied that he was unaware of Schiff's attendance.
"I don't know. Is he going? Is he going? I don't know. I mean, I really don't know,” Trump commented. “Somebody did."
In addition to his California trip, the president is also scheduled to visit North Carolina on Friday to inspect areas affected by severe flooding from the previous year.
Julia Marsh contributed to this report.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
This decision marks a significant snub toward Newsom, with whom Trump has had a contentious relationship, particularly in light of ongoing congressional negotiations that involve conditions on federal disaster aid for the state.
Among those expected to attend a briefing with Trump on Friday afternoon are Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who has faced intense criticism related to the wildfires, as well as eight California congressional representatives. Richard Grenell, the presidential envoy for special missions, and First Lady Melania Trump will also be present, but Newsom will not.
On Thursday, Newsom indicated that he had not yet received any communication from the president regarding the wildfire tour, but mentioned he would still go to Los Angeles International Airport to provide a traditional welcome. Since Trump left office in 2020, the two have not conversed, and Trump has not responded to Newsom’s recent attempts to reach out.
“I look forward to being there on the tarmac to thank the president, welcome him, and we’re making sure that all the resources he needs for a successful briefing are provided to him,” Newsom stated. “There’s no limit to the resources we’ll provide for that briefing.” A spokesperson for Newsom reiterated this message on Friday.
The presence of Bass is particularly noteworthy, given the backlash she has faced, including criticism from Trump regarding an overseas trip she took just as the fires began. Trump accused her of "gross incompetence" in a post on Truth Social.
Trump's visit will kick off with a survey of the damage in Pacific Palisades, a wealthy Los Angeles neighborhood that has suffered from a nearly 25,000-acre wildfire. He will then participate in an emergency briefing on the situation with Bass and several Republican and Democratic representatives, including Jay Olbernolte, Vince Fong, Kevin Kiley, Darrell Issa, Young Kim, Tom McClintock, George Whitesides, and Brad Sherman. Also in attendance will be Randy Moore, chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and Ed Ring, director of water and energy policy at the California Policy Center.
“We're gonna have a very interesting time,” Trump told reporters before his departure from the White House on Friday morning.
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, a vocal critic of Trump, will not be participating in the wildfire-related events due to ongoing Senate confirmation hearings in Washington. When questioned about his invitation to Schiff, whom he has previously disparaged by calling him “scum,” Trump replied that he was unaware of Schiff's attendance.
"I don't know. Is he going? Is he going? I don't know. I mean, I really don't know,” Trump commented. “Somebody did."
In addition to his California trip, the president is also scheduled to visit North Carolina on Friday to inspect areas affected by severe flooding from the previous year.
Julia Marsh contributed to this report.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
