Former President Trump has warned that if re-elected, he will withhold federal aid to combat California wildfires if Governor Gavin Newsom (Democrat) does not change policies to protect endangered fish species.
Trump, speaking at a roughly hour-long news conference at his golf club in Los Angeles on Friday, said that if elected he would give California “more water than almost anyone else” and ensure farmers could use the land to its full potential.
The amount of water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is limited by federal and state regulations to protect a fish called smelt, which is considered endangered. Endangered For over 10 years.
Although smelt do not live long, their extinction could have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem.
President Trump said the water flowing into the state is “dead,” called Governor Newsom a “Newscam” and called for reforms.
“And Gavin Newscomb will sign those papers. And if he doesn't sign those papers, we won't give him the funds to put out all the fires,” he said.
“And if we don't give him the money to put out the fires, he's going to have a problem,” Trump continued. “He's a terrible governor.”
Trump's comments were part of a broader attack on California and its leaders alongside Vice President Harris on a range of issues, including the economy and immigration numbers to California. Trump sought to link Harris, a former San Francisco mayor, California attorney general and US senator, to the problems currently facing the state.
Trump argued that his plan would eliminate the need for desalination plants.
“So Californians, vote for Trump and we'll get our water, we'll get our growth and our prosperity, and those who are leaving will really come back,” he said.
