US conservatives attribute California's inadequate wildfire response to 'woke' policies
Donald Trump Jr. has criticized the Los Angeles Fire Department for focusing on “virtue signaling” instead of competency. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Donald Trump Jr. has criticized the Los Angeles Fire Department for prioritizing “virtue signaling” over competency amid the devastating wildfires plaguing the city.
Conservative voices in the U.S. have linked the department's struggles to contain the fires, which have ravaged more than 20,000 acres, to failed diversity initiatives. These fires have resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals and the destruction of more than 2,000 homes and businesses, forcing over 100,000 residents to evacuate as strong Santa Ana winds intensify the crisis. A state of emergency has been declared.
On Thursday, Trump Jr. expressed on X that the city’s inadequate response to the wildfires stemmed from the fire department’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. He remarked, “Can we rename DEI to DIE since that’s what seems to happen to the people downstream of those who place woke virtue signaling far above competency.”
Additionally, detractors have highlighted that California reportedly invested around $500 million in DEI initiatives, which some liberal media outlets criticized for the predominance of white male firefighters. Prominent conservative commentator Matt Walsh also weighed in on X, stating, “Los Angeles deliberately set out to exclude white men from becoming firefighters, and now they don’t have enough firefighters to prevent their city from burning to the ground. DEI is a cancer that destroys everything it touches.”
In the meantime, President Joe Biden has faced criticism for allegedly neglecting the crisis in California while prioritizing the approval of an additional $500 million in military aid for Ukraine. Observers have pointed out that the Biden administration had previously provided 16 Ukrainian fire departments with essential equipment while California's fire services did not receive the necessary support to tackle the wildfires.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been accused of prioritizing environmental concerns over effective fire management. President-elect Donald Trump has called for Newsom's resignation, arguing that he chose to protect “essentially worthless fish” over the safety of the state's residents by declining to sign a bill that would have facilitated the flow of millions of gallons of water into California.
In addition, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who cut the city’s fire department budget by over $17 million last year, has faced calls to resign for undertaking an African trip over the weekend despite warnings about an impending windstorm.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
Conservative voices in the U.S. have linked the department's struggles to contain the fires, which have ravaged more than 20,000 acres, to failed diversity initiatives. These fires have resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals and the destruction of more than 2,000 homes and businesses, forcing over 100,000 residents to evacuate as strong Santa Ana winds intensify the crisis. A state of emergency has been declared.
On Thursday, Trump Jr. expressed on X that the city’s inadequate response to the wildfires stemmed from the fire department’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. He remarked, “Can we rename DEI to DIE since that’s what seems to happen to the people downstream of those who place woke virtue signaling far above competency.”
Additionally, detractors have highlighted that California reportedly invested around $500 million in DEI initiatives, which some liberal media outlets criticized for the predominance of white male firefighters. Prominent conservative commentator Matt Walsh also weighed in on X, stating, “Los Angeles deliberately set out to exclude white men from becoming firefighters, and now they don’t have enough firefighters to prevent their city from burning to the ground. DEI is a cancer that destroys everything it touches.”
In the meantime, President Joe Biden has faced criticism for allegedly neglecting the crisis in California while prioritizing the approval of an additional $500 million in military aid for Ukraine. Observers have pointed out that the Biden administration had previously provided 16 Ukrainian fire departments with essential equipment while California's fire services did not receive the necessary support to tackle the wildfires.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been accused of prioritizing environmental concerns over effective fire management. President-elect Donald Trump has called for Newsom's resignation, arguing that he chose to protect “essentially worthless fish” over the safety of the state's residents by declining to sign a bill that would have facilitated the flow of millions of gallons of water into California.
In addition, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who cut the city’s fire department budget by over $17 million last year, has faced calls to resign for undertaking an African trip over the weekend despite warnings about an impending windstorm.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
