Donald Trump is threatening to withhold federal aid to California to help fight wildfires if he is re-elected and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) does not bend to his wishes.
“We’re going to take care of your water situation and we’ll force it down [Gavin Newsom’s] throat and we’ll say, ‘Gavin if you don’t do it we’re not giving you any of that fire money that we send you all the time for all the forest fires that you have’,” Trump said at a rally in Coachella, California on Saturday.
“It’s not hard to do,” he added.
Trump’s comments come as he continues to spread misinformation about the federal government’s response to Hurricane Helene. Trump is falsely claiming that the government is withholding support to hurricane victims in red counties and that victims are only receiving $750 in assistance while money is being diverted to help illegal immigrants.
FEMA has denied that they’re withholding aid. The agency also explained that the $750 is an initial payment that victims receive after applying for Serious Needs Assistance. The initial payment is meant to cover essential needs like food, water and medication.
Hurricane victims can qualify for further financial assistance through other programs offered by the agency.
There is also no truth behind Trump’s claim that FEMA funds is being redirected to help illegal immigrants.
“No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts,” the agency explained. “Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.”
As Trump continues to falsely accuse the federal government of withholding aid to storm victims in Republican areas, Politico reported that it was Trump who played politics in his response to disaster while in office.
Mark Harvey, a former Trump aide, told the outlet that Trump had initially refused to approve disaster aid for California after deadly wildfires in 2018 because the state is heavily Democratic.
Harvey said Trump reversed his decision after he was presented with voting data showing that the areas affected have people that voted for him.
