Trump Reportedly Withheld Aid to California Wildfire Victims Until Shown GOP Voter Data, Sparking Outrage
Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
Political observers were shocked Thursday by reports that former President Donald Trump hesitated to provide disaster relief for California wildfire victims in 2018 until he was shown data indicating Republican voters were among those affected. The revelation, made by two former White House officials, has sparked widespread outrage, including from President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“You can’t only help those in need if they voted for you,” Biden wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s the most basic part of being president, and this guy knows nothing about it.”
The report comes as Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are facing heavy criticism from the right over the federal response to Hurricane Helene, which has claimed at least 200 lives. When Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) criticized the hurricane relief efforts as “slow” and “overly bureaucratic,” some pointed to Trump’s actions as a stark contrast.
E&E News reporter Scott Waldman shared on X that former Trump officials told him they had to present voter data to the former president to secure disaster funding for California wildfire victims. Trump reportedly only released the aid after learning that he had as many GOP supporters in Orange County, California, as in Iowa.
Governor Gavin Newsom expressed deep concern over what Trump’s actions could mean for blue states in the event of future natural disasters. “A glimpse into the future if we elect [Trump],” Newsom wrote. “Trump was willing to hold back aid after devastating wildfires in California until he saw proof that people liked him. He doesn’t care about America. He only cares about himself.”
Mike Nellis, a former advisor to Vice President Harris, slammed Trump’s reported delay in providing aid, saying, “This kind of behavior should be immediately disqualifying.” He added, “If a Democrat did something like that, they’d be tarred and feathered—and rightly so.”
Attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick from the American Immigration Council highlighted the gravity of the revelation, noting that Mark Harvey, Trump’s senior director for resiliency policy, put his name on the report. “Wow,” Reichlin-Melnick wrote. “On the record source, not anonymous, from a former official who directly interacted with Trump on this specific issue.”
Heather Reid, managing director at Climate Power, pointed out what was at stake during Trump’s delay: “Trump KNEW that people’s homes, livelihoods, and whole lives had been destroyed by wildfires, and yet he couldn’t be bothered to release disaster aid until his staff convinced him that Republican voters needed help, too.”
As outrage continues to grow, many are pointing to Trump’s actions as a clear abuse of power, with some calling for accountability. Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of Pod Save America, said, “This is exactly the sort of abuse of power that the impeachment clause was created for.”
