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Newsom calls Trump's claims 'pure fiction' after president-elect points finger over California fire tragedy

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Newsom calls Trump's claims 'pure fiction' after president-elect points finger over California fire tragedy


Gov. Gavin Newsom is firing back at President-elect Donald Trump for comments he made Wednesday about the response to deadly wildfires currently devastating Southern California.

Trump spoke with reporters after attending meetings Wednesday on Capitol Hill and accused Newsom of not “[doing] a good job,” but noted they “worked well together” and would again when he takes office later this month.

“It’s very sad because I’ve been trying to get Gavin Newsom to allow water to come – you’d have tremendous water up there, they send it out from the Pacific – because they’re trying to protect a tiny little fish,” Trump said. “For the sake of a smelt, they have no water… It’s a mistake of the governor, and you could say, the administration.”

Newsom’s press office released a statement on social media following Trump’s remarks saying there was a reason for not using the pumps. 

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PALISADES FIRE: HEIDI MONTAG, SPENCER PRATT LOSE HOME; CELEBRITIES FLEE RITZY NEIGHBORHOOD  

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President-elect Trump have clashed on various issues, including the California wildfires.  (Getty/AP)

“LADWP said that because of the high water demand, pump stations at lower elevations did not have enough pressure refill tanks at higher elevations, and the ongoing fire hampered the ability of crews to access the pumps,” Newsom’s press office wrote on X. 

His office added that the city used water tenders to supply water, which is a common tactic in wildland firefighting. 

Newsom’s office also dismissed claims there is a water shortage.

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MALIBU, CA – January 08: Firefighters continue to battle wind and fire as homes go up in flames in Malibu along Pacific Coast Highway near Carbon Canyon Road in the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

“Broadly speaking, there is no water shortage in Southern California right now, despite Trump’s claims that he would open some imaginary spigot,” Newsom’s office said.

The office posted a number of quotes from California officials saying water reliability and water supply are stable.

One of the comments said there was enough water to supply 40 million people for a year.

PACIFIC PALISADES INFERNO FORCES THOUSANDS TO FLEE CALIFORNIA HOMES; GOV. NEWSOM DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY 

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Earlier in the afternoon, Trump accused Newsom of refusing to sign a water restoration declaration and criticized him for the low fire containment.

“Let this serve, and be emblematic, of the gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo. January 20th cannot come fast enough!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) fired back at President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday after accusations that he was mishandling the California wildfires. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Newsom’s office said there was no such thing as a water restoration declaration.

They also noted that the supply and transport of water are unrelated.

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“Trump is conflating two entirely unrelated things: the conveyance of water to Southern California and supply from local storage,” according to the post. “And again, there is no such document as the water restoration declaration – this is pure fiction.”

Still, Trump was not done with his criticism of Newsom. 

In a scathing late-night post on Truth Social, Trump said the wildfires were “all his fault!!!”

Trump also called on Newsom to resign.

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“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” Trump wrote. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”

In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper earlier on Wednesday, Newsom was asked in general about Trump blaming him for the wildfire disaster.

“One can’t even respond to it. I mean… you know, people are literally fleeing. People have lost their lives. Kids lost their schools. Families completely torn apart. Churches burned down,” Newsom told Cooper. “This guy wanted to politicize it. I have a lot of thoughts, and I know what I want to say – I won‘t.”

Newsom went on to praise President Biden, saying he “didn‘t play politics.” 

Biden visited a fire station Wednesday in Los Angeles alongside Newsom for a briefing from authorities on the raging wildfires.

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The California wildfires, which ignited Tuesday afternoon, have already forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes. The Los Angeles area fires are threatening at least 28,000 structures. At least five people were killed.

Newsom declared a state of emergency Tuesday after the Palisades fire grew to an unmanageable level.



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Atlanta, GA

Hoax threat prompts Zoo Atlanta evacuation

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Hoax threat prompts Zoo Atlanta evacuation


Zoo Atlanta was evacuated Saturday afternoon due to a hoax threat, according to Atlanta police.

What we know:

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The Atlanta Police department said officers determined the call was “false.”

FOX 5’s Annie Mapp was at the zoo and spoke with visitors who said they were denied entry and told that the facility had been evacuated.

Zoo Atlanta was evacuated Saturday afternoon. (Credit: FOX 5)

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Mapp reported seeing staff members sitting outside the zoo gate and a heavy police presence in the area. K9 officers were also spotted outside Savannah Hall.

What they’re saying:

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Zoo Atlanta released the following statement: 

“Zoo Atlanta received a bomb threat late this afternoon. While this may be the latest in a series of unsubstantiated threats made to organizations around the U.S. in recent weeks, out of an extreme abundance of caution, all Members, guests, and Zoo team members were safely evacuated from Zoo grounds. Law enforcement responded quickly and has confirmed the Zoo is safe.”

What we don’t know:

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The exact nature of the hoax has not been released. 

FOX 5 is working to learn more about the situation and has reached out to officials for additional information.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The Source: This story contains information from Atlanta police and Annie Mapp on the scene. 

 

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Augusta, GA

VA of Augusta holds hiring fair for health care positions

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VA of Augusta holds hiring fair for health care positions


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The VA of Augusta held a hiring fair Saturday to recruit health care workers as part of efforts to improve veteran care.

Leaders said staffing has improved over the last two years, with the vacancy rate now down to 12%.

The hiring fair comes as medical students are graduating and the VA of Augusta works to rebuild trust and its workforce.

“So we want to afford them an opportunity to join our team, you know, as they enhance or start their new, embark on their new careers,” said James Doelling, interim executive director at VA Augusta Healthcare System. “But we’re also looking for seasoned people, somebody that’s looking for a change. And to me, be part of the most noble mission there is, caring for our nation’s heroes. Those people that have served us, it’s time for them to be served and get the best care anywhere.”

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The Augusta VA has a four-star rating from Medicare.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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Washington, D.C

National Moral Monday: Prophetic Witness Outside the White House | Repairers of the Breach

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National Moral Monday: Prophetic Witness Outside the White House | Repairers of the Breach


Join us Monday, May 18, in Washington, DC and states across the nation for a Moral Monday Peace and Nonviolence Rally outside the White House.

Repairers of the Breach is organizing clergy, impacted people, faith leaders, advocates, and people of moral conscience to gather in prophetic public witness against war, systemic racism, militarism, poverty, voter suppression, environmental injustice, attacks on immigrants and LGBTQ people, and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism.

This Moral Monday action comes one day after the White House’s planned “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, & Thanksgiving” gathering. During Monday’s action, nationally recognized clergy and moral leaders will publicly challenge the distorted theology being used to justify war, attacks on democracy, and policy violence against poor and vulnerable people.

Grounded in the prophetic traditions of justice, truth-telling, nonviolence, and solidarity with the poor, clergy leaders will preach publicly in the streets near the White House before hundreds gathered in person and thousands more joining online across more than 20 livestream and social media platforms.

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Bishop William J. Barber II, President & Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach, will lead the gathering alongside nationally recognized bishops, rabbis, pastors, imams, faith organizers, impacted people, and moral advocates from across the country.

We gather because our nation continues to spend billions on war while communities struggle for healthcare, housing, education, living wages, environmental protection, and voting rights. We believe faith must never be used to sanctify destruction, injustice, or extremism.

Join us for public prayer, testimony, preaching, songs, and disciplined nonviolent moral witness.



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