President Donald Trump is in the fifth day of his second term in office, striving to remake the traditional boundaries of Washington by asserting unprecedented executive power.

The president also took his first trip of his second administration on Friday, January 24, touring areas where politics has clouded the response to deadly disasters. He first traveled to hurricane-battered western North Carolina, where he described FEMA as "a very big disappointment." Later Friday, Trump arrived in wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles, and he greeted political rival California Gov. Gavin Newsom with a handshake.

Newsom said California will need the federal government’s help and support. "I have all the expectations we’re going to be able to work together," he said.

Trump responded: "We’re going to get it fixed."

It might seem like odd messaging for the two rivals. But it’s similar to the approach Newsom took toward Trump during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump said he appreciated the California governor greeting him on the tarmac in Los Angeles. It’s not clear if the Democratic governor will join Trump to tour a fire-ravaged neighborhood or for a fire-related briefing. He’s not listed as a participant in those events. Newsom’s office says the governor is "committed to advocating for the needs of Californians in partnership with the federal administration."

'At least something will happen now'

Newsom has a fine political tightrope to walk. He’s pushed back against some of Trump’s criticism of the state’s handling of the wildfires but also needs the federal government to approve wildfire assistance.

One Pacific Palisades resident who lost homes in LA fires says he is unfazed by Trump’s threat to withhold federal aid. Ron Flury, who has lived in the Pacific Palisades for 25 years, said he was glad Trump was in office because "at least something will happen now."

Flury was driving through the neighborhood Friday and surveying the remnants of the four homes he lost, two of which were occupied by him and his daughter. His only surviving property is a partially built home that recently resumed construction.

"I’m hoping he will help us build back, and I think it will be better than ever but will take awhile," Flury said.

He’s unfazed by Trump’s threat to withhold federal aid unless California changes its water policy – in fact, he supports it.

"Someone needs to force (Newsom) to actually follow through and do the things he should be doing," Flury said. "And that’s what Trump is doing, it’s a negotiation point."