On Wednesday, Donald Trump accused Gavin Newsom of being responsible for the “apocalyptic” wildfires that are currently devastating southern California. In response, Newsom’s team criticized Trump for “playing politics” during a crisis.

As a result of the wildfires, which have spread across parts of Los Angeles County, at least two lives have been lost and tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated. The fires, intensified by powerful Santa Ana winds, have also caused the destruction of over 1,000 homes and businesses.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Governor Gavin Newscum rejected the water restoration declaration that would have permitted millions of gallons of excess rainwater and snowmelt from Northern California to be used daily in various regions of the state, including those currently plagued by these almost apocalyptic fires,” referring to the governor with his frequent derogatory nickname, “Newscum.”

Trump further claimed that Newsom prioritized the welfare of the Delta smelt, an endangered fish species in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, over the needs of Californians in terms of water management.

Trump asserted, “Now we are witnessing the consequences of his incompetence. I will demand that this incapable governor permit clean, fresh water to flow into California! He is responsible for this disaster.”

In 2019, the Trump administration proposed a new strategy to transport more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to local farms. Some officials and environmentalists expressed concerns that the changes could threaten the survival of salmon, smelt, and steelhead fish species, as reported by Cal Matters.

Recently, federal and state officials in California announced updated regulations for two water delivery systems that send water from Northern to Southern California.

In response to Trump’s statements, Newsom’s office was quick to refute the claims. Izzy Gardon, Newsom’s communications director, commented to YSL News, “The alleged water restoration declaration does not exist—this is absolute fiction.”

She continued, “The Governor’s priority is to protect citizens, not engage in political games, and to ensure that firefighters have all necessary resources.”

Additionally, Newsom canceled plans to travel to Washington for former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral to address the wildfire situation.

Trump was not the only conservative to criticize Newsom this week. Billionaire Elon Musk also weighed in on California’s regulatory framework, stating in a post on X: “These fires could easily be prevented, but pointless regulations in California hinder effective actions, resulting in homes burning down year after year and more fatalities.”

The White House announced that President Biden will receive a briefing from CalFire officials regarding the wildfires at a fire station in Santa Monica.