California Governor Gavin Newsom urged President Donald Trump on Wednesday to support federal disaster relief after wildfires devastated Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Despite past clashes over water policy, the Democratic governor and Republican president set aside differences when Trump visited Los Angeles on January 24. Newsom later met with legislators in Washington, D.C., before visiting the White House.
“During the meeting, the governor raised the critical need for federal assistance to support recovery efforts and help impacted families rebuild,” Newsom’s office stated, acknowledging early collaboration from the Trump administration. He also highlighted strong partnerships among local, state, and federal agencies in disaster response. The White House did not comment.
Two major fires burned nearly the size of Washington, D.C., from January 7 until full containment on Friday. The fires killed 29 people and damaged or destroyed over 16,000 structures, officials reported.
AccuWeather estimates losses exceeding $250 billion, potentially making this the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
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