Months before the devastating infernos swept through parts of Los Angeles this week, President-elect Donald Trump brought attention to California’s wildfire problems in a recently circulated clip from an October interview with podcaster Joe Rogan.

During the podcast, the 78-year-old Trump attacked California’s water management practices and Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership, focusing on the state’s natural resource management. As thousands are forced to flee, homes are destroyed, and lives are lost due to fires, his comments have come up again.

The Interview with Trump

During the interview, Trump blamed policies that put environmental protections ahead of practical needs for California’s water mismanagement. Trump said, “You can’t get proper amounts of water in Los Angeles.”

In reference to smelt conservation initiatives, he stated, “Millions and millions of gallons are diverted into the Pacific Ocean to save a tiny little fish.” He went on to say that this water could be used to help farmers and fight fires.

In 2020, Trump proposed a federal water restoration program that would have redirected water supplies from the north to farmers in the south, but Newsom blocked it. “I completed everything.

No one could accept it. You have a lot of water. The governor did not take advantage of the opportunity, he said, adding, “All you have to do is sign, and [Gavin Newsom] didn’t want to sign.”

Trump has been outspoken about California’s wildfire management problems for years, cautioning state officials time and again to concentrate on clearing dead trees and underbrush that feed fires.

During the Kincade Fire in 2019, Trump tweeted, “The Governor of California, @GavinNewsom, has done a terrible job of forest management.” From the moment we first met, I insisted that he “clean” his forest floors. Burns and fire stopper cutting are also required.

Although it is still unknown if poor forest management played a role in the recent fires, Trump’s repeated cautions about California’s water policies and fire hazards have sparked a renewed public discussion. While some have applauded him for “sounding the alarm,” others are still questioning how effective his solutions are.