President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania touched down in Los Angeles to witness the devastation caused by the wildfires.
The visit followed Trump’s earlier stop in hurricane-ravaged western North Carolina, where he sharply criticized FEMA’s disaster response.
Trump and Newsom Pledge Cooperation Despite Past Barbs
On the Los Angeles tarmac, Trump was greeted by California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom he has mockingly referred to as “Newscum” in the past. Despite their strained history, the two leaders exchanged polite words and promised to work together on wildfire recovery.
Newsom extended a firm handshake and said, “Thank you for being here. It means a lot to us. You were there for us during COVID, and I’m confident we can work together again.”
Trump responded, “I appreciate the governor coming out to meet me. It’s like you got hit by a bomb—probably nothing like this since World War II. We’re going to fix this permanently and take care of things.”
Sharp Criticism in North Carolina
Earlier in the day, Trump slammed the federal response to Hurricane Helene during a visit to North Carolina. He suggested FEMA, the agency tasked with disaster relief, may need to be dismantled, arguing states should take on more responsibility for disaster management.
Trump’s visits to disaster zones underscore his push to reshape federal and state roles in crisis response, setting a dramatic tone for his second term.
