Trump Vindicated After Video Resurfaces, Proves Him Right

As wildfires ravage Los Angeles County, leaving residents scrambling for safety, a resurfaced video of Donald Trump discussing California’s fire management policies has gone viral. The clip, taken from the former president’s appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast three months ago, showcases Trump’s stern criticism of California’s environmental policies and lack of forest maintenance. With three major wildfires burning out of control and zero percent containment, Trump’s remarks are being viewed in a new light.

In the podcast, Trump delved into California’s refusal to build water reservoirs and manage its forests, which he argued were key factors in preventing catastrophic wildfires. “They said, ‘We have no water,’” Trump said. “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.’ It’s got a natural flow from Canada all the way up north, more water than they could ever use. And in order to protect a tiny little fish, the water up north gets routed into the Pacific Ocean. Millions and millions of gallons of water gets poured.”

Trump’s comments highlight a long-standing frustration with environmental regulations aimed at protecting the delta smelt, a small fish native to California’s waterways. “I could have water for all of that land, water for your forests,” he said. “You know your forests are dry as a bone.” He went on to explain how simple maintenance measures, like clearing deadfall and raking leaves, could save billions in fire damage each year.

The fires currently raging across Los Angeles County—including Pacific Palisades, Sylmar, and Pasadena—have left over 30,000 residents under evacuation orders and 200,000 without power. The powerful Santa Ana winds continue to fan the flames, with officials warning that the worst is yet to come. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, but critics, including Trump, argue that the disaster could have been avoided with better planning.

On Truth Social, Trump did not hold back, taking aim at Newsom and his handling of California’s water crisis. “Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump wrote. He lambasted Newsom for prioritizing the delta smelt over human safety, saying, “He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt… but didn’t care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid.”

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Trump’s criticisms have found renewed resonance as Californians grapple with the deadly consequences of wildfires. For years, he has pointed to the state’s refusal to address forest mismanagement and water misallocation as critical failures. “They’re not allowed to rake their forests because you’re not allowed to touch it,” Trump said in the podcast. “And all they have to do is clean their forest, meaning rake it up, get rid of the leaves, you know, leaves that are sitting there for five years.”

Despite these assurances, the blazes continue to overwhelm firefighting resources. Experts say that California’s decades-long struggle with wildfire management and water shortages has created a perfect storm for disasters of this magnitude. Trump’s call for systemic change, including better forest maintenance and water infrastructure, now seems more prescient than ever.