California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) invited President-elect Trump to California on Friday amid a war of words between the two leaders over the Los Angeles area wildfires.
“In this spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines,” Newsom wrote in a letter to Trump. “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.”
Newsom cited Trump’s visit to California during the Camp and Woolsey fires in 2018.
“As you prepare to assume the presidency once more, I invite you to come to California again–to meet with the Americans affected by these fires, see the devastation firsthand, and join me and others in thanking the heroic firefighters and first responders who are putting their lives on the line,” he wrote.
Additionally, Newsom praised President Biden’s assistance in fighting the fires, saying he was thankful the president swiftly declared a disaster declaration.
The letter comes as the California governor and the president-elect have clashed over Newsom’s response to the wildfires.
In a Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump called on Newsom to resign.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” Trump said. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”
Additionally, the president-elect said Newsom should have signed a declaration to pump additional water through California to avert the situation.
Newsom’s office hit back against the accusation, calling it “pure fiction.”
The governor himself hit back against Trump and accused him of politicizing the fires.
“People are literally fleeing,” Newsom told CNN’s Anderson Cooper in an interview that aired Wednesday. “People have lost their lives. Kids lost their schools, families completely torn asunder, churches burned down.”
“This guy wanted to politicize it,” he added, talking about Trump. “I have a lot of thoughts, and I know what I want to say. I won’t. I stood next to a president of the United States of America today, and I was proud to be with Joe Biden, and he had the backs of every single person in this community, he didn’t play politics.”
The wildfires have left at least 10 people dead and destroyed more than 10,000 structures. More than 300,000 residents are under evacuation orders or warnings.
