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Despite delivering harsh criticism to California’s leaders from afar, President Trump shared a warm hug with Gov. Gavin Newsom and showed his support in Los Angeles on Friday as he set foot on state soil for the first time in his second term. It looked like he had sworn. The president thanked Newsom — often derided in public as “Newscam” — as they greeted him on the tarmac and promised to help “repair” the damage in the fire-ravaged state. Ta. “They’re going to need a lot of federal aid. If they don’t need anything, that’s fine,” Trump said, turning to Newsom with a slight smile as soon as he got off the plane. “We’re going to need a lot of help from the federal government,” Newsom assured the president, patting him on the shoulder of his Navy suit jacket, before promising that Trump would “take care of things.”
President Trump’s visit to California provided a clear sign that the president and Democratic governor may once again be able to pause their constant war of words in the press and social media to work together in a time of crisis.
The issues at stake between the frequently bickering politicians go far beyond personal feelings. California will need billions of dollars in federal aid to rebuild, and local and state entities are counting on large-scale reimbursements for their spending.
Mr. Newsom was among several prominent California Democrats trying to warm up to Mr. Trump in Los Angeles on Friday. The friendly overtures by the two parties marked a dramatic reversal from eight years ago, when the party stepped up its “resistance” to conservative leadership that widened political divisions across the country.
With wildfires raging in the county, peaceful cooperation with the president could improve his political standing.
But the president’s trip to deep-blue California remained politically charged.
His comments to Newsom on the tarmac are starkly different, with Trump earlier in the day telling reporters in North Carolina that aid to the state requires a number of conditions, including the introduction of voter identification laws. It was released a few hours after the song was sung. In the days before his arrival, Newsom slammed the idea that federal aid was dependent on changes in state policy.
Trump also repeatedly blamed Newsom for the wildfires, saying the governor was to blame for the Palisades fire running out of fire hydrants.
After leaving office as governor on Friday, President Trump announced he would double down on his focus on water supplies, signing an executive order that would “open up the pumps and valves in the North,” saying he would “get water flowing into Southern California as quickly as possible.” Ta. As much as possible. ”
During the firestorm, the local water system was maxed out, a large reservoir in the Pacific Palisades was shut down, and state and local oversight gathered. But experts have debunked President Trump’s claims about widespread water shortages in Southern California.
Until hours before Trump landed, it was unclear whether he and Newsom would even meet in person.
Trump, who did not respond to Newsom’s calls or invitations to visit the state, agreed to a tarmac welcome from the governor on Friday. The exchange, the first direct conversation between the two leaders since 2020, was relatively brief.
Newsom was not invited to a freewheeling wildfire conference the president held with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Berger and numerous Democrats and Republicans in Congress.
The governor rose to national prominence during his first term by challenging the Republican commander-in-chief, but has taken a more ambivalent approach to Trump in recent months. Newsom has alternated between pre-emptive strikes, such as calling for a special legislative session to increase the state’s legal resources to fight Trump, and appeals for civility and cooperation.
Mr. Basu, by contrast, has a much more cautious and conciliatory attitude towards heads of state.
In previous fire conferences, the mayor has carefully avoided responding to questions about potential tensions with President Trump, instead insisting he is “not worried” about the president-elect’s animosity toward the state. did.
As Mr. Newsom loudly criticized a lack of communication with the incoming administration, Mr. Bass said he had “fine calls” with his staff and touted his good relationship with former legislative colleagues close to Mr. Trump.
Part of it is a deeply ingrained style. The former six-term congressman is a decidedly low-key politician who wields his power cautiously, but at a time when many Angelenos appear to be craving more vocal and strong leadership under fire. During the Tako crisis, its quiet demeanor has been the subject of harsh criticism.
But the same low-key vibe, so different from Newsom’s flash, has made Bass a volatile city that needs help not only to rebuild the city, but also to prepare for a handful of high-profile and important policies. It may be particularly suited to dealing with the president. A resource-intensive event is imminent.
Los Angeles is scheduled to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the Super Bowl in 2027, and the Summer Olympics in 2028.
Bass, who was seated prominently next to First Lady Melania Trump during the news conference at the fire station, thanked President Trump for arriving in the city so soon after taking office, saying the city had delayed rebuilding efforts. He pushed back on his own accusations.
“I want you to know that we are facilitating it, and we need your help,” Bass told the president.
The president’s visit comes at a time of serious political vulnerability for the mayor.
When the Palisades fire exploded earlier this month, Basu was attending a cocktail party at the Ghanaian embassy and was out of town for the first 24 hours of the firestorm, an absence that prompted intense criticism.
Although she has quelled some of the accusations in recent days, questions remain about her political future leading the country’s second-largest city. A cooperative relationship with the White House, especially one that ensures federal money continues to flow into city coffers, could help Bass change his political narrative after the crisis. .
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