In a jaw-droppingly non-self-aware moment on Friday, February 21, California Governor Gavin News sent a letter in which he begged the Republican-controlled Congress and Trump Administration for a massive $40 billion in funding to aid the Golden State in fire relief, doing so just weeks after appropriating $50 million to fight the Trump Administration on immigration and other policies.
Beginning the letter, Gov. Newsom said, “The State of California respectfully requests a Supplemental Appropriation for disaster funding to help Los Angeles recover from the devastating 2025 January firestorms. As a result of these hurricane-force wind driven fires, 16,251 structures were destroyed. More than 16,000 personnel worked to extinguish these massive urban fire conflagrations across huge fire-fronts in separate areas of Los Angeles County.”
Continuing, he noted the massive amount of aid he wants for California, saying, “The impacted communities have experienced widespread devastation and the total impact on California’s economy will take years to fully quantify. The funding identified in this request totaling $39,680,737,878 will directly support these communities in the immediate and long-term recovery work needed to rebuild lives and properties from this catastrophic event.”
Adding to that, he then said that California will likely need even more than the requested $40 billion, saying, “As the State continues to evaluate and assess the damage while conducting active response and recovery efforts, we expect to identify additional funding needs to help these communities recover.”
Later on, Newsom claimed that “Callifornia’s success is America’s success” as a plea for aid, saying, “The firestorms that tore through two unique and vibrant Los Angeles communities could easily become the costliest natural disaster in United States history. Fully recovering from the devastation will require California and the nation to prudently and thoughtfully support the rebuilding of the area’s homes, businesses, churches, schools, and vital infrastructure. Los Angeles is one of the most economically productive places on the globe, but it can only rebound and flourish with support from the federal government as it recovers from this unprecedented disaster. California has long been the tentpole of the American economy, a state whose GDP is the fifth largest on the planet and which contributes more tax receipts to the federal government than any other state — by far. California’s success is America’s success.”
Then, a bit absurdly, given the recent tens of millions in spending on anti-Trump measures, Newsom said his state would use the money “wisely,” saying, “Make no mistake, Los Angeles will use this money wisely. California will ensure that funds will serve individuals, communities, property owners, and businesses that suffered losses from these devastating fires.”
Trying to sweet talk Trump, he added, “From day one of being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, President Trump and his Administration have demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting Los Angeles’ recovery by fast-tracking debris clearance and helping to pilot this all-hands recovery. The same holds true for many members of Congress. We are eternally grateful. And we are confident that if we work together, Los Angeles will continue to serve as a beacon to the world and securely place the city on solid ground in the coming years as it hosts the FIFA World Cup and Olympics — and thrive for the century to come.”
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Trump, for his part, has called out Newsom’s management of California’s resources. For example, Trump addressed the water crisis in a 2024 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience while discussing the wildfire risk with the podcaster. “They said, ‘We have no water.’ I said, do you have a drought? ‘No, we don’t have a drought.’ I said, why do you have no water? ‘Because the water isn’t allowed to flow down,’” Trump said. Watch him here: