Trump has blamed Newsom for not being prepared for the fires
New wildfires moving ‘incredibly fast’ in California
Los Angeles County Fire Department captain Sheila Kelliher joins ‘America Reports’ to discuss how they’re working to contain the latest wildfires in California.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked President Donald Trump on Friday for coming to Southern California to tour the devastation left by the fires this month.
"Thank you first for being here. It makes a great deal to all of us," Newsom told Trump after they met on the tarmac of LAX in Los Angeles just after 3 p.m. local time. "We’re going to need your support, we’re going to need your help."
He added that Trump was with California "during COVID, I don’t forget that."
President Donald Trump talks with California Gov. Gavin Newsom after arriving on Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
Trump said he believed he appreciated Newsom coming out to greet him after he arrived, adding "I think you’re going to see some very good progress" on the fire recovery.
"We want to get the problem fixed," Trump said. "It’s like you got hit by a bomb."
Making reference to some of the blame he had placed on Newsom and other California Democrats for not being properly prepared to handle the fires, he added, "We’ll get it permanently fixed so it can’t happen again."
