California Governor Gavin Newsom is once again playing political dodgeball—pointing fingers at Donald Trump for California’s latest wildfire crisis while simultaneously asking the Trump administration to approve a $40 billion disaster relief package.
As eight wildfires rage across the state and evacuations ramp up from Sacramento to San Diego, Newsom released a statement alleging that President Trump’s decision to federalize National Guard troops had weakened firefighting capabilities on the ground. Specifically, he accused Trump of pulling troops from CalGuard’s Joint Task Force Rattlesnake, a 300-member team trained to assist CAL FIRE in wildfire response and prevention.
“CAL FIRE crews responding to the Monte Fire in San Diego have had to fill in gaps left by a California National Guard team that is understaffed due to the federalization of some of its members,” the governor’s office claimed, adding that more than half the task force was diverted to Los Angeles under Trump’s orders.
The irony? That “illegal federalization” is under review by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals—and the early signs don’t favor Newsom. A three-judge panel, including one Biden appointee, reportedly “sharply questioned” the governor’s assertion that Trump lacked legal justification for deploying troops to protect federal property and support immigration enforcement.
What Newsom won’t mention, of course, is the role of California’s own failures in this crisis. For years, the state has been criticized for ignoring basic fire prevention measures like brush clearing and controlled burns. Yet rather than take accountability, the governor is aiming his firepower at Trump—despite the fact that the wildfires actually began under President Biden’s administration.
And let’s not forget Biden’s ill-timed visit to Los Angeles, which pulled even more police officers away from firefighting and evacuation efforts. Even left-leaning outlets like the New York Times acknowledged the political friction, quoting Trump as saying, “[H]atred is never a good thing in politics,” when asked whether he’d approve the massive relief request.
California’s fiscal mismanagement only adds fuel to the fire. With a projected $10 to $20 billion budget shortfall, the state is in no position to handle disaster recovery without federal help. Yet just months ago, Newsom greenlit $50 million in taxpayer money—not for emergency relief, but to sue the Trump administration over policy disputes.
That’s right: the same governor who’s now begging for billions to fix his wildfire mess just spent millions trying to block Trump in court.
In the broader political context, Newsom’s maneuver looks less like leadership and more like calculated opportunism. He refuses to acknowledge the rioters who attacked ICE officers and local police—requiring the National Guard response in the first place—but eagerly blames Trump for protecting federal property.
The situation has all the makings of a political standoff. Trump, who has taken a firm line against fiscal waste and blue-state bailouts, may not be inclined to rubber-stamp Newsom’s $40 billion request—especially when it’s wrapped in accusations and legal battles. And as the fires continue to burn, the people of California are left wondering whether their leaders are more interested in solving the crisis or scoring political points.
Whether Trump ultimately signs the spending bill remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: if Newsom wants help from Washington, he may have to stop biting the hand he hopes will feed him.
