California Firefighters Condemn Trump’s Threat to Withhold Federal Firefighting Aid

By: Rena Miller

Brian K. Rice, president of the California Professional Firefighters union, representing over 35,000 firefighters, criticized former President Trump for threatening to cut federal firefighting aid to California if elected again. Rice called Trump’s remarks a threat to public safety and said the former president “should be ashamed” for using disaster funding as political leverage.

During a recent news conference at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf club, Trump said he would halt aid unless Governor Gavin Newsom agreed to his policy demands, including changes to California’s water management and taxation policies. He also insulted Newsom, repeatedly referring to him as “Newscum.” Trump claimed that California’s Democratic leaders had failed in areas like water distribution and forest management, pointing to endangered species protections and suggesting the state was poorly managing its resources.

Governor Newsom responded on social media, warning voters that Trump would use emergency funds to settle political scores. He emphasized that Trump’s remarks were not just an attack on California but a broader danger to any state needing disaster relief.

Rice drew a comparison between Trump’s recent comments and his visit to the town of Paradise in 2018 after devastating fires, during which Trump made controversial statements about forest floor management and “raking.” Trump once again contrasted California’s forests with those in Europe, particularly Austria, though Austrian officials have previously debunked his claims.

Currently, firefighters are battling wildfires across Southern California, with tens of thousands of acres burned and numerous homes destroyed. Rice said that while firefighters are risking their lives to protect communities, Trump’s threats jeopardize the safety of Californians. He called the former president’s rhetoric dangerous and divisive, noting that Trump’s stance on withholding aid represents a serious threat to public safety.

Rice concluded by calling it a disgrace that Trump would use his platform to endanger the livelihoods of Californians in pursuit of political gains.