Trump threatens to withhold federal aid for LA wildfires over California water rules

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Published 3:39 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2025 | Updated 3:40 p.m. ET Jan. 23, 2025


WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump threatened to withhold wildfire relief from California if it doesn't reroute water to the southern part of the state. He also hinted at a possible overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Referring to an executive order he signed earlier in the week ordering California to redirect water from the northern part of the state, Trump said Wednesday evening in an interview with Sean Hannity that he thought the federal government should withhold federal funds.

"I don't think we should give California anything until they let water flow down into there," he said. "It's a political thing. I don't know what it is."

Trump also threatened to shut off wildfire relief to California last year during the 2024 presidential campaign if the state's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, refused to change his policies protecting an endangered species of a small fish – called smelt.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/23/trump-withhold-federal-aid-la-california-wildfires/77907699007/

[tishaLA]

1. cool. we'll withhold federal tax dollars

And stop paying for the economic failures of red states.

[riversedge]

2. If only WE Democrats had the power to do that. yes!!

[homegirl]

15. Place the funds in

an escrow account. Then do as Donald does, DELAY, DELAY, DELAY...! DRAG IT THROUGH THE COURTS FOR A DECADE!!!!

[LauraInLA]

25. How do we do that? California doesn't collect our federal taxes -- the IRS does.

[homegirl]

27. Worse yet.

Federal government is holding our money, are they paying interest while they hold It?

"The Interest Never Sleeps"

[Karasu]

3. Damn well should. That would be more than appropriate to combat the insanity of this unprecedented fascist blackmail.

Go for it, Newsom.

[mitch96]

6. And use it to fund the repairs from the fire...yes?....Can you do that?...nt

[Magoo48]

12. I wish our California government would do just that. As far as our California

Republic is concerned, the deal with the feds is shit. We must respond as radically as he acts. I wish we would totally disregard every fucking horseshit thing coming out of DC which doesn’t serve our state. Fuck him and his bus load of Nazi bozos.

[LauraInLA]

26. I don't know what money California can withhold, do you? The IRS collects our federal tax revenues.

[Magoo48]

33. You're correct, of course, except some customs duties etc.

i was just pissed. Whenever he threatens to withhold natural disaster relief it pisses me off.
I’d feel much more secure if we all sent our fed income tax to Sacramento.

[LauraInLA]

34. This ALMOST makes me wish he'd make good on his threat to abolish the fed income tax.

[Nasruddin]

37. Seize an asset

Like a federal building in SF.

Or a national forest.

Or maybe Yosemite.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Meh. Meet that demand and Trump will make another one.

[mitch96]

7. And block it in court just like the technique he uses..Delay delay delay..nt

[C Moon]

5. The gop wants more political power in California. The only way they can do this is with lies.

My guess is they are going to try to put ex baseball star Steve Garvey in the running for governor.
They also want to turn California's energy into the Texas style of energy.
Finally, they will put a shit load of oil drills off our coasts, and sell the sand land to rich homeowners.

[bronxiteforever]

14. Great points. It's all about the grift.

[twodogsbarking]

8. Called that one. It was easy though.

Smelts are tasty. Flour, s&p, fry.

[SpankMe]

9. California can't control its own water?

"States rights" anyone?

[sakabatou]

11. It's only "states rights" when Dump says so.

[Magoo48]

13. Is that the water that flows downhill, you know, north to south from Canada?

[Initech]

23. He is seriously convinced there's some magic switch that will make it all go away.

[Lulu KC]

10. "I don't know what it is."

He sure doesn't.

[rambler_american]

16. Any thoughts os secession? nt

[Karasu]

30. At this point, I'd be in favor of it. However, I'd prefer to see CA become a part of Canada (a long shot).

Last edited Fri Jan 24, 2025, 06:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Cascadia isn't sounding like a half-bad idea anymore, either. Provided it encompasses the whole state and not just NorCal.

If this is the way these fascists are already starting out of the gate with CA, something drastic needs to be done. CA can't afford to play by their rules anymore--and it has no reason to.

[pfitz59]

17. Trump is a moron

California water is the most heavily managed in the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Water_Project

[travelingthrulife]

19. When he says opening the spigot he means to end this project and others for conservation.

He is saying this nonsense because farmers have been forced to be more responsible than they have been. So...farmer's with water rights whining.

[Initech]

24. This Californian still can't believe that ridiculous "make forests safer act" still passed.

[travelingthrulife]

18. Are we supposed to use the Democrat's weather machine to re-direct the rivers and mountains now.

What is he babbling about?

[LittleGirl]

20. 45 is truly a moron. nt

[bdamomma]

22. The felon

Is fucking bully and idiot.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

28. trump says he is conditioning aid to California following LA wildfires

tft is now going to condition aid on voter id
https://bsky.app/profile/ecmclaughlin.bsky.social/post/3lgj3cupnlk2d

Link to tweet

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-president-news-01-24-25

President Donald Trump told reporters Friday that he will be conditioning aid to California following the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area, demanding the “water to be released.” He also said he wants voter ID in the state.

“I want two things. I want voter ID for the people of California, and they all want it right now. You have no, you don’t have voter ID. People want to have voter identification. You want to have proof of citizenship. Ideally, you have one day voting. But I just want voter ID as a start,” Trump told reporters upon landing in North Carolina.

“And I want the water to be released, and they’re going to get a lot of help from the US,” he added.

It is an unusual political demand for the president to make, and one that politicizes disaster relief in a state that is reeling from the wildfires.

[azureblue]

32. and as usual

Trump is lying and doesn't have a clue about what he's talking about.

[Nasruddin]

38. Newom you knew this was coming

I hope there's a real plan!
Not that our voting system couldn't stand some improvements, but this isn't it.

[GreenWave]

29. Charge him with enabling arson.

[totodeinhere]

36. Won't work. The SCOTUS ruled that he can do anything he wants and have immunity. n/t

[azureblue]

31. Newsom should just say--

"Then you don't get any money from CA until you deposit full FEMA funds in the state's accounts. CA would be far better off using our money for relief and repair. CA is supporting way to many Red states that can't get their act together.""
Trump isn't the only person that can play chicken.

[totodeinhere]

35. There have been a lot of natural disasters in red states like Florida. And the Biden Administration was

always right there providing comprehensive disaster aid regardless of the politics of the region. That is the way it should be.