Trump blames poor forest management for California fires, threatens to revoke funding
"There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in
The tweet drew immediate ire on social media, with some people blasting the president for posting threats while fires across the state continue to destroy homes and take lives. Others pointed out that many forests are on federal land, and still others suggested the government should do more to address climate change, which scientists and fire experts say is a driving force behind the increase in devastating fires in recent years.
"Lives have been lost," Governor-elect
And
Rice went on to say that Trump's assertion that the state's forest management plans were to blame for wildfires "is dangerously wrong. Wildfires are sparked and spread not only in forested areas but in populated areas and open fields fueled by parched vegetation, high winds, low humidity and geography." He said nearly 60 percent of
"Natural disasters are not 'red' or 'blue' -- they destroy regardless of party. Right now, families are in mourning, thousands have lost homes, and a quarter-million Americans have been forced to flee," Rice added. "At this desperate time, we would encourage the president to offer support in word and deed, instead of recrimination and blame."
Fire officials in
Firefighters in
"Mr. President, with all due respect, you are wrong: The fires in So. Cal are urban interface fires and have NOTHING to do with forest management," tweeted
Reached by phone Saturday morning,
Some critics who blasted Trump for playing politics in the midst of such tragedy pointed out the worst of the fires is raging in the Northern California county of
It's not the first time the president has lashed out at
In August, Trump blamed
"We have plenty of water to fight these wildfires, but let's be clear: It's our changing climate that is leading to more severe and destructive fires,"
During an interview with
Staff writers
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