Newsom Vows to Crash Trump’s Wildfire Devastation Tour
The California governor, who’s been relentlessly attacked by Trump during the crisis, said he’d be there “on the tarmac” when the president lands.
Saul Loeb/AFP
California Governor Gavin Newsom vowed to crash President Donald Trump’s Friday trip to Los Angeles to survey wildfire damage in the state.
Newsom said he plans on a courteous greeting for the MAGA chief, despite the barrage of insults Trump has thrown his way throughout the disaster—including repeatedly branding him “Newscum.” For his part, Newsom has accused Trump of politicizing the state’s emergency.
A view of flames at the mountain as seen from Topanga Canyon near Pacific Palisades in Topanga, Los Angeles, California on January 9, 2025.
Anadolu/Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
Despite the tension, Newsom told reporters he’d show up to greet Trump regardless of whether or not the president invites him.
“I look forward to being there on the tarmac to thank the president, welcome him, and we’re making sure that all the resources he needs for a successful briefing are provided to him,” Newsom said Thursday.
He was speaking from Pasadena after signing two bills pledging $2.5 billion in state recovery after the fires killed at least 28 people and decimated around 17,000 structures. “There’s no limit to the resources we’ll provide for that briefing,” he added.
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Politico reported that Newsom and Trump haven’t spoken since Trump left the White House in 2020. The president has also not been retuning Newsom’s recent calls, the report added.
The Democrat on Thursday attempted to downplay his conflict with Trump as a “sideshow” that has dominated headlines in recent weeks, assuring that even if Trump is ignoring his calls, he still has a line to the president.
Newsom said he has “a lot of relationships in the Trump world; a lot of relationships of trust. I communicate with a lot of folks around him, folks that have his ear and influence.”
🚨 President Trump is on his way to North Carolina and Los Angeles, California to tour damage from Hurricane Helene and the recent fires:
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 24, 2025
“We’re going to get it fixed up. It should’ve been done months ago.” pic.twitter.com/ZVYPdFVlGN
Politico’s Playbook separately reported Friday that perhaps the most unlikely trio might have assembled for Trump’s visit if it wasn’t for scheduling conflicts.
The newsletter said Trump invited Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) to join the visit. That would be the same Sen. Schiff who Trump called “scum“ from the Oval Office mere hours after his inauguration this week.
“Senator Schiff greatly appreciates the President’s visit to see the devastation of these wildfires firsthand and the invitation to accompany him, and regrets that he’s unable to join the President in Los Angeles due to scheduled nomination votes,” a spokesperson for Schiff told CNN.
When asked about the surprising invitation on Friday morning, Trump denied knowing anything about it.
“Is he going? I don’t know. I mean, I really don’t know,” Trump told reporters before departing the White House for the trip. “You know, if he’s going to be there it would be cheaper but I didn’t invite him. Somebody did.”
A reporter asks President Trump why he invited Adam Schiff to North Carolina after calling him scum.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 24, 2025
His response is LEGENDARY 🤣:
“I don't know. Is he going? Cause if he's going to be there, it would be cheaper, but I didn't invite him. Somebody else did.” pic.twitter.com/Ac7GkaFnUV
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