Officials are discussing a potential visit from Trump to LA’s wildfire sites, but he hasn’t connected with local leaders yet.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the area hit hard by the Eaton Fire, mentioned she sent Trump a letter and has been chatting with some folks in his incoming administration. But, no direct talks with Trump himself.
She’s optimistic, saying they’ll eventually connect. Meanwhile, LA Mayor Karen Bass hasn’t had any luck reaching him either.
Trump’s team hasn’t responded to requests for comments yet. In the meantime, he’s been pretty vocal on social media, criticizing California officials for their handling of the fires that started earlier this week.
He called the situation a disaster, saying thousands of homes are gone and more are at risk. He’s really laying into the local politicians, claiming they can’t manage the crisis.
This back-and-forth comes after Governor Newsom asked Trump to come see the damage from the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have tragically taken at least 16 lives and destroyed over 10,000 structures.
On a recent NBC appearance, Newsom even brought up the 2028 Olympics in LA, suggesting it could be a good reason for Trump to step in and help with recovery efforts. He acknowledged Trump’s past support in bringing the Olympics to the U.S. and framed this as a chance for Trump to shine and help rebuild the community.
