Embattled Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is once again at the center of controversy after social media photos reveal she was at a cocktail party in Ghana when the Palisades fire exploded. Basu was visiting the African country as part of a delegation sent by the Biden administration for the inauguration of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, the Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday.
The bus appeared to be posing for photos just before 8pm local time (12pm in Los Angeles). According to the Los Angeles Times. Shortly after, an evacuation order was issued due to the Palisades fire.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass smiles for a photo while attending the Ghanaian embassy cocktail party on January 7, 2025. (Instagram/@maristagram)
“The Presidential Mission was entertained by the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana on their way to the plane,” Bass spokesman Zach Seidle said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Most of the time, the mayor was in another room on a call from LA.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. ambassador to Ghana told the LA Times that Mr. Mahama held a reception for the U.S. delegation before they returned to the U.S. on a military plane.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass smiles for a photo while attending the Ghanaian embassy cocktail party on January 7, 2025. (Instagram/@maristagram)
Former Obama staffer and liberal podcaster accuses Mayor La of being overseas during wildfires
On January 2, just days before Bass left for Ghana, the National Weather Service warned of the possibility of “extreme fire weather conditions” due to Santa Ana winds. Just a few days later, the Palisades was on fire and residents were ordered to evacuate.
Southern California remains under a National Weather Service warning of “particularly dangerous conditions” as wildfires continue. A new fire broke out, but firefighters were able to extinguish it.
Bass has been under intense scrutiny for ignoring fire warnings when he traveled overseas and for his response after returning home. As of this report, a petition calling for her resignation had garnered more than 142,000 signatures.
“Water supplies have been severely strained, billions of taxpayer dollars have been misallocated or unspent, and countless lives have been lost,” the petition reads.
Celebrities including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patricia Heaton, and Jillian Michaels are calling for accountability from Bass, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and California leadership.
Zachary Levi slams 'incredibly poor' leadership in Los Angeles wildfires, suggests 'criminal negligence' was involved
Los Angeles residents have been battling devastating wildfires for more than a week. At least 24 people have been confirmed dead as of Wednesday morning, officials said, but the number is expected to rise. Dozens more people are still missing.
More than 12,300 homes, schools and businesses were destroyed in the inferno, according to Cal Fire.
The Palisades Fire ravages neighborhoods in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, amid high winds. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In 2021, Bass told The New York Times that she has no plans to travel abroad, saying, “As far as Los Angeles, the only places I'll be going are Washington, D.C., Sacramento, San Francisco and New York.”
Bass' office did not respond to requests for comment.
