• Gov. Gavin Newsom of California faced criticism for claiming state reservoirs were “completely full” during an interview, despite a critical Los Angeles County reservoir being drained for over a year.
• Wildfires in Southern California have destroyed over 12,300 homes, killed at least 16 people and burned more than 40,000 acres, exacerbating the controversy surrounding Newsom’s comments.
• President-elect Donald Trump accused Newsom of mismanaging California’s water resources, leading to the governor’s defense of his administration’s water management policies.
• The prolonged closure of the Santa Ynez Reservoir, serving the Pacific Palisades area, has drawn sharp criticism, particularly as fire hydrants in the area reportedly ran dry during the crisis.
• Newsom’s interview sparked mixed reactions on social media due to his animated body language, while the governor defended his administration’s response to the wildfires and invited Trump to visit California to assess the damage firsthand.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is under fire for claiming that state reservoirs were “completely full” during a recent interview, despite evidence showing that a critical Los Angeles County reservoir had been drained for over a year.

The controversy erupted as wildfires ravaged Southern California, destroying over 12,300 homes, killing at least 16 people and burning more than 40,000 acres. Newsom’s remarks, made during a pre-taped interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” have sparked criticism from political opponents and raised questions about the state’s water management and emergency preparedness.

The governor’s comments came in response to criticism from President-elect Donald Trump, who accused Newsom of mismanaging California’s water resources, particularly by prioritizing the protection of the Delta smelt fish over water delivery to drought-stricken regions.

“The reservoirs are completely full – the state reservoirs here in Southern California,” Newsom said during the interview. “That mis- and disinformation I don’t think advantages or aids any of us.”

However, reporters quickly pointed out that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117-million-gallon facility serving the Pacific Palisades area, had been offline since February 2023 for repairs. The reservoir’s absence left firefighters struggling with low water pressure as they battled the Palisades Fire, which has burned over 23,000 acres and remains only 11 percent contained.

The Santa Ynez Reservoir’s prolonged closure has become a focal point of the debate. The facility, operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), was taken offline to address leaks and repair its cover. However, its absence during the wildfires has drawn sharp criticism, particularly as fire hydrants in the area reportedly ran dry during the crisis.

Newsom acknowledged the issue during the interview but emphasized that the reservoir is not part of the state system.

“That’s exactly what triggered my desire to get the investigation to understand what was happening with that local reservoir,” he said. “That was not a state system reservoir, which the president-elect was referring to as it relates to the Delta smelt.”

Newsom has since launched an independent investigation into the reservoir’s management, but critics argue that the move is an attempt to deflect blame.

“How could it be when we’re doing an independent investigation and we just want the adjudication of the facts?” Newsom said. “It’s not about finger-pointing. It’s about answering the questions you and everybody want answered.”

Newsom’s interview drew widespread attention, not only for his remarks but also for his animated body language. Throughout the 18-minute conversation, the governor frequently clapped, gestured and rocked back and forth, prompting mixed reactions on social media.

“Who the hell is he dancing with?” one viewer wrote on X, while another commented, “His physical gestures are over the top and distracting.”

Despite the criticism, Newsom defended his administration’s response to the wildfires, emphasizing the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions.

“Did it contribute in any way to our inability to fight the fire? Or were 99 mile-an-hour winds determinative and there was really no firefight that could’ve been more meaningful?” he asked.

Wildfires reignite Trump and Newsom feud

The wildfires have reignited a long-standing feud between Newsom and Trump, who has repeatedly criticized California’s handling of natural disasters. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Newsom of refusing to accept federal assistance for water management, writing: “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.” (Related: Trump demands Newsom’s resignation as California wildfires rage: “This is all his fault!”)

Newsom, meanwhile, has urged Trump to visit California to assess the damage firsthand.

“I called for him to come out, take a look for himself,” he said, referencing a letter he sent to the president-elect. “We want to do it in the spirit of an open hand, not a closed fist.”

Visit Disaster.news for more updates on Los Angeles wildfires.

Watch the video below where InfoWars‘ Alex Jones talks about America turning against Newsom concerning the wildfires in Los Angeles.

This video is from the Ron Gibson Channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Democratic leadership failures exposed as Los Angeles burns.

Biden defends Newsom and Bass, claims utility companies cut power to water pumps during Los Angeles wildfires.

Adam Carolla lambasts Democrats over handling of California fires, predicts liberals will flee.

California wildfires spark conspiracy theories: Were fires set to trigger economic and ecological collapse?

Texas vs. California: Los Angeles wildfires expose stark difference in disaster response and governance between the two states.

Sources include:

NYPost.com

DailyMail.co.uk

Brighteon.com