Trump Calls On Newsom To Resign; Republicans Blame DEI For Inability To Contain Wildfires

The finger-pointing at diversity and inclusion efforts is part of a broader push to blame liberal policies for the perception of chaos and lawlessness in blue states.

Republican President-elect Donald Trump has called on California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and political foe, to resign as wildfires tear through the Los Angeles area — a once-in-a-generation disaster that’s unleashed a gusher of political attacks and misinformation in its wake.

As historically devastating blazes ravaged LA on Wednesday, Trump blamed Newsom for the fires, which have resulted in at least five deaths and the displacement of more than 100,000 people. Meanwhile, the president-elect’s son Donald Trump Jr. suggested on Thursday that the effort to contain the fires is being hampered by initiatives around diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI — part of a broader push to blame liberal policies for the perception of chaos and lawlessness in blue states like California.

“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!” the elder Trump wrote Wednesday on his Truth Social platform as he used a derogatory nickname for the governor, who is likely to emerge as a major foil for Trump during his second term in the White House.

“Fire is spreading rapidly for 3 days — ZERO CONTAINMENT. Nobody has ever seen such failed numbers before! Gross incompetence by Gavin Newscum and Karen Bass….And Biden’s FEMA has no money — all wasted on the Green New Scam! L.A. is a total wipeout!!!” he added in a post Thursday, referring to LA Mayor Karen Bass (D), Democratic President Joe Biden, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and so-called Green New Deal proposals to address climate change.

The president-elect had also written that the fires “may go down, in dollar amount, as the worst in the History of our Country. In many circles, they’re doubting whether insurance companies will even have enough money to pay for this catastrophe. Let this serve, and be emblematic, of the gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo.”