California Governor Gavin Newsom. (Image: Getty)
The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has suggested that the US President-Elect is threatening the fire responders by not supporting the state amid the ongoing wildfires.
Mr Newsom nodded to the numerous examples of saying that he would withhold aid from California as well as Utah, Michigan, Georgia and Puerto Rico.
“He’s been at this for years and years and years. It transcends states,” Mr Newsom claimed to .
“I’ve been pretty expressive about that in the context of someone threatening our first responders in terms of supporting the immediacy of their needs.”
He continued: “He said ‘I’m not going to support the firefighting efforts. I’m not going to support the state of California as it relates to its emergency management – he made this pretty clear during the election – unless they do my bidding’.”
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This follows an invitation from Mr Newsom to Mr Trump to go and see the devastation and meet survivors. The MailOnline reports that he wrote in a letter: “In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines.
“Hundreds of thousands of Americans – displaced from their homes and fearful for the future – deserve to see all of us working in their best interests to ensure a fast recovery and rebuild.”
Mr Trump has since taken to Truth Social, his social media platform, and said: “The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out.
“Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place.
“This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”
Californian Governor suggests that Donald Trump is threatening firefighters. (Image: Getty)
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Death toll in Los Angeles wildfires rises to 16 as blazes continue for 5th day. (Image: Getty)
Four wildfires are currently spreading through Los Angeles as two others are declared as contained. Evacuation orders have been issued throughout the state as 16 people have so far been killed, with at least 13 missing.
The flames have destroyed more than 12,000 homes and other structures since the blaze started last week, and people fear the number will rise as strong winds of up to 70mph could carry the fire.
According to officials, the Palisades Fire has expanded over an additional 1,000 acres in the past 24 hours. Evacuation orders have been issued to 153,000 residents in the Los Angeles area, which puts 57,000 structures at risk. Another 166,000 residents have been warned that they may need to evacuate, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
Express.co.uk has contacted ‘s representatives for comment.