While Republicans eye conditions for future federal aid to California grappling with catastrophic wildfires, at least one GOP House member implored President-elect Donald Trump directly to focus on helping residents first and worry about the politics part later.
Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, was part of a congressional contingent that met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida over the weekend. The primary goal of the trip for the Republican lawmakers was to discuss state and local tax deductions (also called SALT) — but the conversation also turned to aid for California amid the historic, and ongoing, natural disasters.
“I was pleased to hear the president and some of my colleagues at the meeting that they’re all in agreement, in principle, helping and bringing the aid to … Southern California, specifically, as we’re dealing with raging wildfires,” said Kim.
“The bottom line is this: The message that we gave to (Trump) — and then the message that he reaffirmed with us — is that regarding the wildfires, if aid is needed, we must deliver,” Kim said. “Let’s not put politics over saving people’s lives and bringing relief to the families and those who are affected by it.”
Kim said that she, too, has been critical of recent California policies and priorities, such as Democrats in the state legislature in the midst of a special session to “Trump-proof” the state.
Kim said her point of view, which she iterated to the president-elect over the weekend is, “We cannot prioritize potential future political battles over supporting first responders battling those wildfires in our state.”
“The point that I really wanted to reemphasize to the president is that yes, he talked about … what if we tie the federal aid to California changing their policies,” she said. “I think we all at that time had a point that we need to get the aid as soon as possible.”
Trump, who will be inaugurated for his second term Monday, has been openly critical of Newsom and other Democratic leaders in California regarding the fires.
In a recent post on his Truth Social account, Trump implored (in all caps) Newsom to “release the water from up north.”
“What’s taking you so long,” Trump’s account posted. “Should have done it eight years ago, and you would have had no fire problems today. Gross incompetence!”
Newsom, meanwhile, has dismissed Trump’s Truth Social posts as “mis- and disinformation.” The governor, along with a handful of other state and local officials on both sides of the aisle, has invited the president-elect to come to Los Angeles and see firsthand the destruction caused by the fires.
Fire officials have blamed the devastation on the strong wind storm that also blanketed the area in recent days.
But Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley has also been critical of City Hall, lambasting budget cuts and saying the city had “failed” the fire department.
And Newsom, too, has acknowledged reports of poor water pressure and dry hydrants as firefighters scrambled to fight the fires. He has called for an independent investigation into the “causes of lost water supply and water pressure” across Los Angeles County and has asked state and firefighting officials to identify what local governments can do to “provide adequate water supply for emergency responses during future catastrophic events.”
A spokesperson for Trump did not respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Republicans in Washington have floated placing “conditions” on federal aid for California — albeit what that would specifically entail is not quite clear.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, has said, “We’re not projecting in advance what this will be.”
“Obviously, there’s been water resources management, forest management mistakes, all sorts of problems,” Johnson told a group of reporters this week. “And it does come down to leadership, and it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects.”
“So that’s something that has to be factored in,” the speaker said. “I think there should probably be conditions on that aid. That’s my personal view.”
A spokesperson for Johnson did not make him available for additional comment Tuesday, only pointing to his past statements.
Putting “conditions” on aid, Kim said, would set a “bad precedent” for future aid requests — across the country, not just in California.
“My immediate response and priority is to bring the aid so we can deal with this disaster right now,” Kim said. “My colleagues who are saying this has to be a condition, I think they would change their mind if a natural disaster hit their state.”
“Who’s to say that if we put a condition every time there is a natural disaster, to change the policies before you get the money from the federal government?” said Kim.
Kim, who represents communities in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, is no stranger to wildfires’ aftermath — and requesting federal assistance.
In 2024, the Airport fire spread across more than 23,500 acres for 26 days in Orange and Riverside counties, destroying 160 structures and damaging another 34, according to Cal Fire’s estimate in early October after the fire was contained. (Structures refers to residences and businesses, as well as other property such as sheds, garages or mobile homes.)
Kim led bipartisan efforts then for disaster relief funding for not only Trabuco Canyon in the wake of the Airport fire but also for full disaster relief funding to be included in congressional spending bills.
Congress will see where the recent spate of disaster aid will go for California — and other areas also in need of federal disaster relief — and determine how much more is needed to support first responders, Kim said.
“If there is more aid needed, we must deliver,” she said. “That’s what we need to do as federal representatives.”