Just two days before Air Force One lands in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom is wondering whether he’ll be welcomed to join President Donald Trump on his wildfire tour.
Newsom’s office said the Democratic governor is willing and able to meet with the Republican president in Southern California on Friday. But the White House has not given Democratic governors any guidance on their plans. In fact, Newsom’s team has said it only knows about the president’s visit “from sources.”
The uncertainty hours before Trump’s arrival underscores the complicated relationship between two of the country’s most formidable political opponents. Newsom, in particular, is navigating a crisis that could derail the state’s recovery and his presidential ambitions.
For much of last year’s presidential campaign, Newsom said Trump posed a uniquely dangerous threat to American democracy. And Mr. Trump regularly calls governors “scum” or, more accurately, “news scum.”
Asked on Fox News Wednesday if he planned to meet with governors, President Trump answered, “I don’t know.” “I never thought about it.”
In recent weeks, Trump and his allies, particularly billionaire Elon Musk on the X platform, have attacked Newsom’s leadership and at times spread misinformation about California’s response. House Speaker Mike Johnson also suggested conditions should be placed on federal wildfire aid to force changes in California.
“This is a very difficult balance for him to balance,” said Jack Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College in California. “As governor of California, he needs to work with the president to get federal aid to the state. As a national political figure, he feels pressure to attack Trump. Do both at the same time.” That’s difficult, especially when you have a very thin-skinned president.”
One of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history has created an urgent need.
A large, fast-moving wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles that had been largely extinguished reignited on Wednesday. More than 14,000 structures have already been destroyed and at least 28 people killed across Los Angeles County. The recovery effort could be the most expensive in U.S. history and will require cooperation between the Trump and Newsom administrations.
Hours before his visit to California, President Trump will tour parts of western North Carolina that are still recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helen. Hurricane Helen is another major natural disaster that the president has criticized Democratic leaders for.
Newsom’s office had not yet heard from the White House as of Wednesday afternoon. Newsom spokesman Bob Saladay said the governor is scheduled to travel to Southern California that day and hopes to meet with the president.
“So far, we have not heard anything from the White House about Friday’s visit,” Saladay said. “If things go well, I would be happy to meet the president.”
There is precedent for them appearing together. Trump appeared alongside Newsom, then the governor-elect, after another deadly fire in 2017.
A leader of a country hit by a disaster. potential leader of the democratic party
Mr. Newsom, 57, has a limited term as governor and is already considered a front-runner for president in 2028. He also wants Trump and his Republican allies on Capitol Hill to provide massive disaster relief supplies to rebuild the state.
Allies now believe Newsom will eventually launch into the Democratic presidential race after he leaves office at the end of 2026. But allies acknowledge that how he handles the current crisis will shape his long-term political prospects.
As a result, Mr. Newsom, a notorious media lover, has largely avoided discussion of politics in recent weeks. His office said he has spent 12 of the past 16 days at the scene of wildfires in Southern California. He has also issued 12 executive orders so far aimed at speeding up the recovery, including moves to circumvent some restrictions.
Newsom sent a letter to Republican leaders in Congress last week asking for immediate disaster relief “without conditions or long-term negotiations.” Republican leaders, backed by President Trump, have indicated they are likely to attach conditions to the funding, but details have not yet been released.
Already, some would-be political allies outside California are worried that Mr. Newsom’s brand is being tarnished by Republican criticism.
“Newsom can roll with the punches when it comes to Trump. So I think he has the strength that people are looking for in leadership,” said Newsom, a rising star in the Democratic Party. said Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), a rising Democratic star who wants 2028 presidential candidates to play a more prominent role in national politics. .
“But really it’s about how the story around the fires plays out and when we deal with any natural disaster or disaster, people say this guy can’t take care of us. “I think a lot depends on whether or not they can be fooled,” Crockett said of President Trump’s criticism of Newsom. “That’s a very difficult kind of space he has to navigate.”
From “Trump proof” to “common ground”
Indeed, since the Los Angeles fires earlier this month, Newsom has almost completely abandoned the anti-Trump rhetoric he promoted throughout the last presidential campaign.
In recent days, the Democratic governor has shifted the focus of a special legislative session designed by some to make California “pro-Trump” to prioritizing the state’s response to the fires. Newsom also joined House Speaker Johnson and some Republican governors around the country in ordering that the American flag be flown to its fullest capacity at President Trump’s inauguration.
Newsom released a statement on the day Trump was inaugurated, paying tribute to Trump and calling for “common ground.”
“As we face one of the worst natural disasters in American history, partnership, a shared commitment to the facts, and mutual respect are critical values that enable civil debate, effective governance, and meaningful action. “It highlights the need for this,” Newsom said. .
There is one major exception.
Newsom and his team have pushed back against clear instances of clear misinformation from Trump and his allies about the fire response flooding social media and wasting the governor’s staff’s time and energy. . Newsom’s office says more than half of recent media requests are directly related to baseless conspiracies.
The governor also launched a website to counter misinformation from Trump and his allies.
Newsom has tried to avoid a direct confrontation with Trump, but Trump’s false statement in his inaugural address that “fires from weeks ago in California continue to burn tragically with no protection” ‘ did not ignore the false statement.
“That’s nonsense. But it’s also an insult,” Newsom wrote in a message to supporters. “The bravery and heroic actions of firefighters from across California, across the United States, and across North America are helping prevent these tragic wildfires from turning into something completely unimaginable for many more families. I did.”
“We look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles and to mobilizing the full power of the federal government to help our fellow citizens recover and rebuild,” he added.
AP writers Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles and Sophie Austin in Sacramento, California, contributed.
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