Los Angeles’ mayor remained speechless as she was confronted by a reporter after flying back home to find swathes of her city burnt to the ground.

Karen Bass has faced a storm of criticism for cutting $17.6 million (£14.1 million) from the city’s fire department budget and for travelling to Africa over the weekend despite a critical weather warning.

David Blevins, a Sky News journalist, asked the mayor as she waited to deplane: “Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning? And do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions of dollars, madam mayor?”

Ms Bass, 71, remained stony faced and silent, looking to the floor as Mr Blevins held out a microphone in a video of the confrontation taken on Wednesday. The journalist went on to ask: “Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today?”

Mr Blevins added: “Elon Musk said that you’re utterly incompetent. Are you considering your position?” but Ms Bass offered no reaction, instead turning to face the wall as the volley of questions continued.