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WATCH: Trump Presses Karen Bass Over Wildfire Response In Tense Meeting

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President Donald Trump and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass went back and forth over the recovery and cleanup process on Friday following the devastating wildfires that burned hundreds of homes across the city.

Trump traveled to Los Angeles on Friday after surveying the damage from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina earlier in the day. After arriving at LAX, the president surveyed the damage from the devastating Pacific Palisades fire that torched more than 23,000 acres. As part of the tour, the president met with several residents and listened to complaints about the cleanup process and how to best build back.

Trump later shared the feedback he received from residents during a roundtable discussion with California leaders, including Mayor Bass.

“Six months is no good,” Trump said, pointing to complaints about the lengthy processes to clear debris and start rebuilding processes. “And the number one thing that we are going to do immediately, and you will see this happen, is to clear out the debris. And you know we’re concerned right now over the weekend because of the potential rain, but we are going to move as fast as we can, but we want you to be safe. We want you to be back in your homes immediately,” Bass then replied.

Trump responded by stating that multiple residents have offered to clear the debris themselves, though they have not been permitted to do so by the city government. “You should let them do it because by the time you hire contractors it’s going to be two years. If a family… If people are willing to get a dumpster and do it themselves and clean it out, there’s not that much left. It’s all incinerated,” he said.

“That’s right. And you know, it’s just going to take a long time if you do… You can do some of it, but a lot of these people… I know that guy right there that’s talking. I know my people. You’ll be on that thing tonight, throwing the stuff away and your site will be, it’ll look perfect within 24 hours. And that’s what he wants to do,” the president continued while pointing to a resident.

“He doesn’t want to wait around for seven months till the city hires some demolition contract that’s going to charge him $25,000 to do his lot. I think you have to, you have emergency powers just like I do. And I’m exercising my emergency powers. You have to exercise them also.”

The two continued to go back and forth over the cleanup process, with Trump promising that the mayor will have access to all required federal resources and permits.