Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass responded to President Trump’s recent criticisms, which he referred to as an “nonsense” attack.
During a cabinet meeting, Trump took aim at California Gov. Gavin Newsom and how bus operations were managed during wildfires that affected parts of Los Angeles earlier in the year.
“Honestly, I think they’re incompetent. They just don’t know what they’re doing. It’s being handled poorly by Newsom and Mayor Bass. Mayor Bass was in Africa while the fire was raging,” Trump stated.
“She knew the fire was escalating, but still chose to go on a trip to Africa. These folks are just not good at their jobs,” he added.
When asked for her reaction by CNN’s Erin Burnett on “Outfront,” Bass said, “Well, that’s nonsense. The president isn’t exactly known for his commitment to the truth, so what he claimed isn’t accurate.”
Bass acknowledged she was aware of Trump’s remarks at the meeting. “I know he has an ongoing feud with the governor, but once again, he labels everyone as incompetent,” she remarked. “It makes me question how he arrives at these judgments; clearly, they’re not grounded in reality.”
Her comments coincided with rising tensions between Democratic leaders and the presidency, leading to heightened federal responses in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently cautioned Trump against sending the National Guard to Chicago after the president hinted that the city could be a target. “Today, in the Oval Office, Trump looked into the camera and asked for a personal commitment, saying, ‘Mr. President, can we have the honor of protecting our city?'” Pritzker noted during a press conference.
He added, “Instead, I say to the president, ‘Don’t come to Chicago. You’re not welcome here, and we don’t need that.'”
