During a rally in Coachella, California on Saturday, former President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding for wildfire prevention and firefighting in the state, drawing sharp criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Trump, while laying out his vision of California’s problems, took aim at the state’s leadership, particularly Governor Gavin Newsom, over their handling of environmental and agricultural issues. told by Axios.
In his speech, Trump addressed a range of topics, including a protester who disrupted the event. Referring to a woman heckling him from the crowd, Trump remarked that she would “get the hell knocked out of her,” a comment that led to accusations of him endorsing violence against women. The remark raised concerns among observers about his increasingly inflammatory rhetoric at public events.
Following this, Trump shifted his focus to California’s forest management and wildfire response, issuing a direct threat to Governor Newsom. “We’ll force it down his throat,” Trump said. “And I will say, Gavin, if you don’t do it, we’re not giving you any of that fire money that we send you all the time for all the far… forest fires that you have. It’s not too hard to do.”
Trump’s comments suggested that unless California improves its forest management practices, federal funds used to combat the state’s devastating wildfires could be withheld. He also complained about being distracted from addressing the state’s issues during his presidency due to his legal battles, saying, “I was working on two Russia hoaxes, I was working on impeachments, I was working on indictments. They went out of their way to keep me busy because they didn’t want this to happen.”
Trump’s remarks reignited a debate over his administration’s approach to California’s wildfires, a state that experiences some of the worst fires in the country. While some of Trump’s supporters agreed with his criticism of the state’s forest management, others saw the threat as a dangerous politicization of much-needed disaster relief. Critics were quick to point out that withholding funds could worsen the situation for thousands of residents at risk of losing their homes and lives due to the fires. report from The Hill.
The rally came amid heightened wildfire risks in California, with ongoing concerns about climate change, drought, and the increasing intensity of fire seasons. Trump’s threat to withhold wildfire aid underscores his ongoing friction with the state, where he has repeatedly criticized Democratic leadership for their environmental policies.