In between campaign fundraiser events, former President Donald Trump spoke to members of the media in the affluent Los Angeles suburb of Rancho Palos Verdes on Friday while the community deals with a land movement crisis that is threatening hundreds of homes.

The Republican nominee for president in the upcoming November election took the podium at about 10 a.m. at Trump National Golf Course, which is a course he’s owned for more than 20 years.

Trump talked about the ongoing crisis in Rancho Palos Verdes during the news conference Friday. Many residents have been displaced from their homes, and thousands of others have had electricity shut off as landslides have affected crucial elements of the community’s infrastructure.

“I want to express my support for all of the families affected by the landslides in Rancho Palos Verdes,” Trump said. “Landslides are something to be taken care of … The mountain is moving and it can be stopped, but they need some help from the government.”

Trump’s criticism of the government’s response comes more than a week after California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in the community, giving the city state funding and support from the Office of Emergency Services.

Still, many residents congregated outside the golf course on Friday, hoping to have the chance to show the former president the impact that the landslides is having on their lives.

One resident, identified as Jerry, told KTLA’s Omar Lewis that his daughter was about to move into his new home in the city when Southern California Edison abruptly turned his power off on Labor Day weekend.

“We’re hoping for FEMA money to come in,” he said. “It’s a working class neighborhood. I think the perception is these people have an endless amount of money … You have a lot of older people that have nowhere to turn.”

Jerry said he was not present at the event in support of former President Trump, but rather to get his attention on the issue.

“We’re not going to go out without a fight,” he said. “We’re here to stay.”

While lots of residents were there to advocate for the residents affected by the natural disaster, most in attendance were there in support of Trump, who rarely makes campaign stops in California due to the political demographics of the state.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of Trump supporters were seen outside. One large banner read “Kamala Harris is an idiot,” alongside an American flag.

A magnitude 3.4 aftershock was felt throughout the Los Angeles area on Friday morning, less than 24 hours after a 4.7 rocked much of Southern California.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the aftershock was reported at 4:56 a.m. about 3.7 miles north of Malibu, about one-half of a mile south of the epicenter for Thursday’s quake. The aftershock had a depth of about 6.5 miles.

Friday morning’s aftershock was one of many, but easily the strongest yet. The USGS Impact Map shows that it was felt throughout the Los Angeles area and extended as far as Santa Barbara and Orange counties.

As seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones pointed out on Thursday, the high rate of earthquakes felt in Southern California in recent weeks is more likely to be a random occurrence than a pattern.

“Yes we are feeling (more quakes this year) but it’s not yet statistically significant,” Jones said in a news conference Thursday. “Seismologists look for patterns — everybody looks for patterns — that’s why we have myths of earthquake weather and animals and all of these things are us trying to form a pattern of what is inherently a random distribution.”

What to do in an earthquake

During an earthquake, experts say knowing the proper steps to protect yourself and minimize injury is crucial. The California Department of Public Health provides detailed guidelines on what to do during such events. Here are the key points:

Drop, Cover, and Hold On:

Drop: Immediately drop down onto your hands and knees. This position prevents you from being knocked over and allows you to stay low and crawl to safety if necessary.

Cover: Use one arm to protect your head and neck, and if possible, take shelter under a sturdy table or desk. If no shelter is available, get down next to an interior wall away from windows. Stay on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs.

Hold On: Hold on to your shelter until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if it shifts.

A Southern California teacher is under investigation after he allegedly fathered a child with one of his students.

The suspect was identified as Steve Graves, 61, by the Anaheim Police Department. Graves is currently employed with the Anaheim Union High School District.

On Aug. 26, 2024, a woman reported to police that in the late 1980s, when she was a student at Loara High School in Anaheim, she had a sexual relationship with one of her teachers.

Detectives investigated and discovered a second woman who allegedly had a sexual relationship with the same teacher, Graves. She also told police she had a child together with him.

Both victims were minors at the time of the incidents.

On Aug. 29, Graves was placed on administrative leave by the school district. Anaheim police said they are in contact with him.

“Anaheim Police detectives are working with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to determine what charges can be filed, if any, based on the statute of limitations,” officials said.

Graves has worked as a teacher at Loara High School in Anaheim, Ball Junior High School in Anaheim and Lexington Junior High School in Cypress.

No further details were released as the case remains under investigation.

Anyone who may have been a victim of the suspect or has information on the case is asked to call Detective Evenson at 714-765-1623.

Anonymous tips can be provided to OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227 or online at occrimestoppers.org.