Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) welcomed President Donald Trump on a California tarmac Friday as the two men feud over the future of Los Angeles wildfire aid.
Newsom, approaching Trump at the Los Angeles International Airport, briefly shook his hand and patted him on the back as he seeks to secure federal dollars to address weeks of fires that have killed at least two dozen people and caused billions in damage.
“Thank you for being here,” Newsom told Trump in front of reporters. “It means a great deal to all of us, not just the folks in the Palisades, the folks in Altadena that were devastated. We’re going to need your support. We’re going to need your help. You were there for us during COVID. I don’t forget that. And I have all the expectations that we’ll be able to work together to get the speed recovery.”
Trump has pummeled Newsom over the wildfires, blaming the state’s environmental practices for the blaze and demanding concessions if California wants his administration’s help. Earlier on Friday, he named voter ID and water reforms as his two conditions, prompting pushback from Newsom’s office.
“We’re looking to get something completed, and the way you get it completed is to work together as the governor of the state,” Trump said as he stood beside Newsom.
Trump has for years sparred with Newsom, adopting the moniker “Newscum” as a taunt. In turn, Newsom has burnished his national reputation with the rivalry. He asked the state legislature for millions to be set aside for a litigation fund ahead of Trump’s return to the Oval Office.
Now, Newsom is in the position of needing a Republican-led Washington’s help for any wildfire relief package.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The White House did not originally coordinate Friday’s briefing and tour with Newsom’s office, but the governor told reporters this week his aides were “making sure that all the resources he needs for a successful briefing are provided to him.”
“There’s no limit to the resources we’ll provide for that briefing,” he said on Thursday.