As wildfires rage across Los Angeles, former President Trump's past criticisms of Governor Gavin Newsom's wildfire management strategies have resurfaced. Trump, during his previous administration, repeatedly targeted Newsom's handling of wildfires, particularly concerning forest management practices and environmental policies.

In 2019, amidst the Kincade Fire, Trump accused Newsom of neglecting forest cleanup and criticized his reliance on federal aid. Newsom retorted, attributing the fires to climate change and accusing Trump of opposing solutions. This exchange foreshadows the current debate, with Trump recently reiterating his claims on Truth Social, blaming Newsom's policies for the ongoing Los Angeles fires and alleging a rejected "water restoration declaration" that would have diverted water resources. Newsom's office dismissed these claims as fiction, emphasizing their focus on fire suppression efforts.

This isn't the first time Trump has challenged Newsom's wildfire management. In 2018 and 2019, he threatened to withhold federal funding, citing "poor forest management." Newsom, along with other Democrats, has consistently pointed to climate change as the primary driver of these fires. Conversely, California Republicans have echoed Trump's sentiments, criticizing the state's forestry management practices.

In 2019, Newsom pledged wildfire prevention reforms, but a 2021 NPR investigation suggested the governor inflated the success of these efforts. The state attributed setbacks to the pandemic and an intense fire season. Despite the controversy, California's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan reports completing all key actions, and CAL FIRE has expanded its firefighting force since 2019.

Currently, multiple wildfires are burning across Los Angeles County. Newsom has mobilized substantial resources, including firefighters, equipment, and the National Guard, to combat the blazes and protect communities.