1776Reporting
President Donald Trump has tied federal relief for California’s devastating wildfires to two controversial demands: implementing voter ID laws and altering water distribution policies in the state. These conditions have sparked criticism from California officials and reignited debates over voter access and environmental regulations.
“I want to see two things in Los Angeles: voter ID so that the people have a chance to vote, and I want to see the water be released and come down into Los Angeles and throughout the state,” Trump told reporters Friday after landing in Asheville, North Carolina. “After that, I will be the greatest president that California has ever seen.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed—without evidence—that voter fraud is rampant in California, a state he lost decisively in the 2020 election. His demand for voter ID laws, however, has drawn sharp criticism from state leaders who view the proposal as unnecessary and politically motivated.
A Tense Response from California
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office quickly condemned Trump’s remarks. In a statement, they reminded the public that California already requires identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, to register to vote. However, voters are not required to present ID at polling stations under state law.
“Under current CA law you must be a CA resident and US citizen (and attest to being one under penalty of perjury) AND provide a form of ID such as driver’s license or passport that has been approved by the Secretary of State in order to register to vote,” Newsom’s office posted on social media.
The governor’s office criticized Trump’s conditions as “wrong” and an inappropriate way to handle disaster relief.
Water Policy in the Spotlight
In addition to voter ID, Trump demanded changes to California’s water policies. He accused state officials of prioritizing fish conservation over human needs, claiming that water resources in Northern California have been mismanaged to the detriment of southern regions like Los Angeles.
“Los Angeles has massive amounts of water available to it. All they have to do is turn the valve,” Trump said. “They wouldn’t do it because, politically, they didn’t think it was good. I think it’s great politically. I think they’re dead politically. What they’ve done, they’ve destroyed the city.”
Trump’s remarks echo previous criticisms he has made about California’s environmental priorities. During an interview with Fox News earlier in the week, he argued against federal aid unless water policies were reformed. “I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down,” he said.
A Stark Contrast in Relief Efforts
Trump’s approach to California differs from how he discussed disaster relief in North Carolina. Speaking after a briefing in Fletcher, North Carolina, Trump assured residents that federal support would come quickly, despite what he described as slow progress on earlier recovery efforts.
“We’re going to do a lot for North Carolina,” he said. “They’ve been very slow. I don’t know why it’s been so bad. I don’t know if that’s for political reasons because they lost the state … but this has been very slow, and we’re going to make up for lost time.”
Touring the Damage
Later on Friday, Trump was set to visit Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades to meet with residents impacted by the wildfires. Before departing for California, he toured areas in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene, pledging additional federal resources for recovery efforts.
Trump’s demands have placed California in a difficult position as the state grapples with one of its worst wildfire seasons. With communities devastated and resources stretched thin, the federal government’s conditional aid has added another layer of complexity to an already dire situation.
For Californians awaiting relief, the debate over voter ID and water policies has introduced new delays and uncertainty, leaving many to wonder whether political disagreements will overshadow urgent recovery needs.
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