President-elect Donald Trump confirmed his plans to visit Los Angeles this coming Friday to assess the extensive wildfire damage that has ravaged the city, a move that follows a public invitation from Gov. Gavin Newsom and County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, as reported by ABC7.
Trump, who is soon to take the oath of office for his second term, told the crowd during a rally in Washington on Sunday he would help rebuild the city "more beautiful than ever before," promising to swiftly respond to the survivors of the wildfires, according to USA TODAY.
While acknowledging the devastation and loss, Trump's visit also comes amid political friction, with previous comments via Truth Social slamming Gov. Newsom's stance on state water policies and blaming them for the current crisis, Trump argued that the governor's actions directly hampered firefighting efforts and indirectly led to the disaster's scope, this was soon after the confirmation from "Meet the Press," acquired by FOX LA, announcing his "probable" visit next week; however, in a session last Sunday, Newsom referred to Trump's statements by criticizing the connection between the delta smelt—a fish--and the fires, calling the remarks "inaccurate" and "incomprehensible."
Despite the heated exchanges over state policies and disaster response, a sense of urgency eclipses the conflict, with the President-elect aiming to see first-hand the damage that has dislocated thousands and claimed at least 27 lives, as per USA TODAY. Trump’s commitment to the state's reconstruction is expected to be a key feature of his first official trip during his second term, promising to engage "some of the best builders in the world" to makeover Los Angeles.
