On Monday, Donald Trump flew to California to discuss forest fires and climate change. Smoke from the massive wildfires was still visible as Air Force One landed at McClellan Park.
Trump was in the Golden State for a briefing on the multiple wildfires that have been raging since mid-August.
He spoke from the tarmac and started off the briefing on the wrong foot when he replied to a question about his slow response to the fires by calling the question “nasty.”
“I got a call from the governor immediately and I called him immediately,” Trump said. “On that call, I declared an emergency. I gave an emergency declaration so don’t tell me about not doing it. That included FEMA coming here immediately…That’s a nasty question.”
Trump’s signing of the emergency declaration did open up federal funding for California to fight the fires in late-August, but Trump did not tweet about the fires or show any real concern about what was taking place in California until this past Friday.
Trump went on to claim that he had a “good relationship” with California Gov. Gavin Newsome. Trump has repeatedly attacked Newsome on Twitter.
Trump met with Newsom and other state officials just moments after landing. Newsome wasted no time and got right to the point.
“It is self-evident that climate change is real,” Newsom told the Trump. “I feel very strongly the hots are getting hotter, the dries are getting drier.”
Trump quickly attempted to downplay climate change as he has done many times in the past. He again stated that what was needed was better forest management. He still believes that the answer is raking the forest floors.
Wade Crowfoot, the California Natural Resources Secretary, warned of the dangers of “ignoring science and putting our head in the sand and thinking that it’s all about forest management,”
“It will start getting cooler,” Trump said. “Just you watch.”
“I wish science agreed with you,” Crowfoot said.
“I don’t think science knows,” Trump says.
So far, 33 people have been killed in the fires, millions of acres have burned abs thousands have been forced from their homes. And Trump seems like he couldn’t care less.
