Trump Makes it Clear He is President for All Americans with Visit to Los Angeles Fire Disaster Zone
Trump and the First Lady were gracious during the tour and roundtable. However, Trumpmade it clear that he had no time for #Resistance theater or eco-activist nonsense, and California would likely be getting a federal funding watchdog.

President Donald Trump visited Los Angeles this Friday, following a heartfelt visit to tour the devastated parts of North Carolina hit by Hurricane Helene.
His purpose was to survey the damage caused by recent wildfires in the Pacific Palisades area and garner more insights about the disaster’s contributing issues. However, it also cemented that he will not neglect the blue area of southern California, but will act as the President for all Americans.
However, during the tour, he did robustly express concerns about the poor choices made by local Democratic politicians that created the conditions for the wildfire to become a regional inferno.
I watched the entire visit on X.com, courtesy of the new media. It is wonderful to be able to see important events like this without the progressive filter from the mainstream media. Here are some of my key takeaways.
President Trump arrived with First Lady, Melania Trump to be greeted by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom did himself no favors with this tarmac photo-op.
You guys😂😂😂😂😂😂 He’s just standing around with his hands in his pockets like a little kid! He looks so small. Who let him do this?????????? His entire publicity team must have quit. This. Is. Incredible. This might be the greatest political meltdown I’ve seen since Hillary pic.twitter.com/gLh0eYCAJs
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) January 24, 2025
At least the exchange between Trump and Newsom was polite and drama-free.
President Trump was greeted warmly by California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom as the commander in chief exited Air Force One upon arrival in Los Angeles Friday — making nice after Trump blasted his management of the crisis.
Trump, 78, and Newsom, 57, talked briefly and animatedly after the president descended the steps of his jet — with the governor alternately pointing, making a fist and giving a thumbs up.
The awkward greeting, in which both leaders also patted each other on the shoulder, concluded with Newsom giving first lady Melania Trump a peck on the cheek.
Next, Trump and his wife toured the smoldering ruins of Pacific Palisades. They had a chance to talk to several homeowners, who conveyed their concerns about rebuilding. Apparently, they told the President it would take 18 months to begin rebuilding their homes based on what they understood of the local permitting process.
Shoutout to First Lady Melania Trump for wanting to be on the ground walking around the Palisades
Melania Trump truly is America’s BEST First Lady pic.twitter.com/YZJzHr3sWN
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) January 25, 2025
One of the special moments of the day was a meeting with Battalion 47 firefighters. The responders all had the opportunity to shake Trump’s hand and get a photo with him.
As President Trump shakes hands with brave firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department, one of them says “Thank you for saving America, Mr. President” ❤️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/dvyhijpWAR
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 25, 2025
I noticed he kept the firefighter helmet he was gifted close to him, and that he placed in a prominent spot during the ensuing meeting with the mayor and other officials.
I love that @RichardGrenell is sitting next to POTUS and not @MayorOfLA 😂 Trump says “Your governor met us on the tarmac and that was very nice of him.” pic.twitter.com/PaXnljKvD8
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) January 25, 2025
During the ensuing roundtable with Bass and regional officials and political leaders, Trump mainly kept the focus on rebuilding the area and eliminating permitting requirements that would hamper recovery efforts.
“I don’t think you can realize how rough, how devastating it is until you see it,” Trump said of the wildfire damage. “The federal government is standing behind you, 100%.”
Trump said that he is going to waive federal permits for rebuilding in the area. “I’m gonna be the president to help you fix it,” he said. “We’re going to waive all federal permits… Because a federal permit can take 10 years… we don’t want to take 10 days.”
But that is not to say Trump did not express his concerns about the many problems California political leadership as it relates to fire prevention, response, and recovery.
Trump had a few words to say about the state’s failure to listen to the warnings about wildfires that were issued by insurance companies. These companies were forced to leave the state because of the ridiculous rules imposed on them by Sacramento.
🚨 Trump just STEAMROLLED Democrat Rep. Brad Sherman
“You did something Brad where every insurance company in the country left California. That’s why you have no insurance… people that think like you made it so impossible.”
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/24py8Rsq7j
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 25, 2025
He scolded Bass for the delays in evacuees returning to their homes.
🚨BREAKING: President Trump just put LA Mayor Karen Bass IN HER PLACE after she said victims *MIGHT* be able to return home “in a week.”
“A week is a long time… They want to clean up. They are just standing there, saying they need a permit.” pic.twitter.com/rMpPxKZKt9
— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) January 25, 2025
Trump also hammered Bass on permits, indicating there should be no barrier to swift reconstruction efforts.
🚨 President Trump just SCHOOLED LA Mayor Karen Bass over rebuilding
Bass seems to be quite angry about Trump waiving permits and demanding people be able to start IMMEDIATELY.
Trump shut her down, but not before she exposed herself by saying she’ll be forcing permitting prior… pic.twitter.com/SF5oVoVQao
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 25, 2025
There was clear disdain for the California Coastal Commission.
Today I joined President Trump in LA and told him there’s no place that needs a “revolution in common sense” like California. We spoke about killing the CA Coastal Commission and other insane fire and water policies. pic.twitter.com/ugT6uJoIOU
— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) January 25, 2025
Breitbart’s Joel Pollack was given a bit of time to relay his experiences during the fire, which I believe is an important nod to the new media and an indication that the Trump team will promote alternative news sources.
As @joelpollak tells his harrowing story of saving his home with flower vases and buckets @MayorOfLA sits there smiling like a complete dullard. T pic.twitter.com/vgIVkE0emS
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) January 25, 2025
Pollack mentioned a potential solution to address concerns about California politicians diverting federal recovery funds to vanity projects and virtue-signalling uselessness: A watchdog.
I suspect Trump already had that game planned in the form of Rik Grenell, former ambassador to Germany and likely California’s official babysitter.
I am following closely. Rik Grenell’s face on the idea of leading the federal response is….pitch perfect. pic.twitter.com/ITAUoiQ2Y9
— Leslie Eastman ☥ (@Mutnodjmet) January 25, 2025
Trump concluded the roundtable graciously, however, he made it clear that he had no time for #Resistance theater or eco-activist nonsense.
A first term Trump might have been a bit more deferential.
Whatever hell they put him through, THIS interrupted second term is a much better result. https://t.co/BraZeOuiOs
— tree hugging s*ster 🎃 (@WelbornBeege) January 25, 2025

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Comments
What a difference an election makes.
Trump is responsive, engaged, knows the facts, and quick on the uptake. He showed up prepared, with Ric Grenell sitting there with him.
Contrast that with Joey Bidet, who took over a year to visit East Palestine OH.
Had Brandon gone to LA, he’d have been found wandering through Beverly Hills looking for an ice cream cone.
Did I hear Trump call Bass a hack? Right to her face in a press conference? Having Grinnell there was not unintentional. After passing him over for various posts which surprised me I think he is going to be in charge of making sure there is no foot dragging and DEI hiring of contractors. The only thing Trump didn’t do to Bass was tell her that after Kamala she was the worst DEI hire in our countries history and he had no idea how she still had a job.
I agree that Grenell’s presence was no accident. I suspect that he and Trump have an agreement in how he will be used: perhaps he is Trump’s Swiss Army knife given the things he’s capable of doing.
Trump is starting to publicly expose just how useless these Democrat politicos are, and it’s pretty glorious.
The truth about many things will be coming out, even if people do not go to jail. They will be exposed in history. It will be known as the Great American Reckoning. One can hope.
Some say this story needed the Biden years to create the right conditions, and develop better solutions. Sadly, there are still many deluded, like Sherman, by the surreal world they created and then abused. So out of touch. But some in LA actually seem to be seeing the light that Trump is for the people, not those pretending to be.
3 frauds. sexaul assault. Libel. Felony conviction. 91 indictments. The most thoroughly corrupt individual in Us history and you redhat culters are yapppingh about a ‘Great reckoning? Put a sock in it. You people are deplorable
#47 and Grenell are the adults in the room. The vile, incompetent, derelict and negligent Dhimmi-crat apparatchiks are the useless toddlers.
The worthless Dhimmi-crats should shut their greasy mouths and listen to the adults who know how to manage things.
Naturally the leftist narrative is that he threatened to withhold aid.
This is beautiful as it puts Democrats in an incredibly difficult position.
They could slow roll things and take a couple years to allow people to rebuild their houses, which brings mid terms in to play.
Democrats could speed things up and allow people back to their homes this week to begin the clean up process, in which case people will remember the role Trump played in getting everything sorted much faster than it would.
Democrats could f88k about and resist everything Trump tries to do for Californians affected by the fires, which the people won’t forget.
Basically there is no good option for Democrats here. Which is not to say there are no good options for the people of California, because there is lots of good options. None of these good options are good for Democrats.
So let’s just watch and see how this plays out 😂😂
Grover Cleveland in vetoing the Texas Seed Bill
Though there has been some difference in statements concerning the extent of the people’s needs in the localities thus affected, there seems to be no doubt that there has existed a condition calling for relief; and I am willing to believe that, notwithstanding the aid already furnished, a donation of seed grain to the farmers located in this region, to enable them to put in new crops, would serve to avert a continuance or return of an unfortunate blight.
And yet I feel obliged to withhold my approval of the plan, as proposed by this bill, to indulge a benevolent and charitable sentiment through the appropriation of public funds for that purpose.
I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the General Government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit. A prevalent tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty should, I think, be steadfastly resisted, to the end that the lesson should be constantly enforced that though the people support the Government the Government should not support the people.
The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow-citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood.
A reprise of earlier sentiments expressed by Rep. Davy Crockett years prior.
Unfortunately, the days where Congressmen were moral enough to be shamed at arguments exposing the unconstitutionality of their actions are long gone
Bring back caning and duels
Duels on the House Floor would be entertaining.
Trump is a master showman, in that he allows his opponents the chance to make fools of themselves. First Newsome, then the California Coastal Commission, then Mayor Bass. All he had to do is point out the obvious and let them do the rest. It is to laugh.
.
“Shoutout to First Lady Melania Trump for wanting to be on the ground walking around the Palisades”
AOC couldn’t even bother to make it as far as the real border refugee camp.
“A watchdog. I suspect Trump already had that game planned in the form of Rik Grenell”
Would have been WAYfunner to have tapped Larry Elder, if only to remind California who SHOULD have been governor if their voters had any brains at all. He’s got tons of financial oversight experience, he runs a bank now.
or Rick Caruso to remind LA of who should have been elected mayor.
It would have been a pimp for the ages if Trump had brought Ron DeSantis with him as a surprise visitor. He could have told Newsome that spending four hours with Ron would help him get a grip on how to manage a state through a natural disaster and then left the two of him while he went on to take Bass apart. Gavin’s well into the FO section of FAFO.
The absolute most hilarious part of the Bass schooling was after clowning herself with ‘toxic waste’ and, ‘well maybe we can get it done in a week’, was when one of the Democrats sitting on the left just quietly reached out and took her mic from her.
She’s an incompetent moron that’s making them all look bad, and they know it.
She established her clown diploma when burglars took her personal guns out of her home and nothing else — guns she continued to maintain were “safely and securely stored.”
Maybe if she declares her residents’ burning homes fireproof, it would solve that problem.
While the last four years have been terrible and almost put us to the point of no return, I think the four years away have improved Trump’s focus and effectiveness AND that the country is much more receptive and ready for larger scale changes.
Trump also gets a “halo effect” whenever he takes an action. “Could you ever see Biden doing that?”
I have had the same thought on multiple occasions, always followed by the sobering acknowledgement that the four horrific years of Biden was a steep price to pay for Trump 2.0.
Only hard times make strong men.
Trump may be a bit too optimistic in what he thinks can be done by way of rebuilding these devastated communities. Even if they can be rebuilt, they will have none of the beauty and character of what was destroyed.
There is another issue. What is the moral basis for the claim that America should rebuild these towns? I am not minimizing the calamity here. But residents in these towns voted 99% – 1% (guessing) Harris. They have voted, gladly and repeatedly, for decades, for the stupid and destructive green policies of the Democrats–and they would do so again tomorrow. They still believe in these policies. They will not change their ways. They would vote Harris in as governor tomorrow! What was it some wag once said? “Elections have consequences.” America needs to have a serious debate on this bailout. It’s not a gimme. After all, the country is bankrupt.
IOW, you reap what you sow. Gavin has balls going to Trump for the billions. And so does California. CA has been hectoring the rest of the country with their environmental blarney for decades. Now the bill has arrived. And it’s the rest of the nation who has to pay.
I know Trump is a softie and wants to be loved. He’s a spender. He’ll give CA the money. I don’t know what the answer is here. I hope there is some kind of middle ground. CA voters were glad to see insurance companies get stiffed and forced out. So now?
Some folks need to read The Ant & the Grasshopper.
I have had the same thought on multiple occasions, always followed by the sobering acknowledgement that the four horrific years of Biden was a steep price to pay for Trump 2.0.
Oops. Was replying to stillneedtodraintheswamp
Jesus did Lazarus… but he did only one.
After that, the point had been made.
Well put. The country IS broke. We have to borrow more money just to pay the interest on the debt. I do think that Trump will spend money more effectively, but has additional budget items – like this issue, all his tax promises, like tips, reiterated in Las Vegas today, etc. The fact that almost everywhere else is managed even worse and capital is flowing here will help.
The fault lies not with the elected officials, it lies with voters who elected them.
What I have been pondering is how long reconstruction of such a vast area will take, and what it will look like, First let’s start with so many uninsured, and many more under-insured. Will they have the money to rebuild? Even with low-interest loans the cost of rebuilding anything will be insurmountable for many. First the cost of rebuilding is higher than usual because the lot must be cleaned of wreckage and that wreckage disposed of. Then, when you have such a large area clamoring for builders and building materials all at once, costs will be much higher than usual. Oh, and don’t forget the additional costs imposed by California building codes… every home must have (as I recall) a solar panel system, and must not use natural gas appliances. I am sure there are other quirks. I also speculate that the permitting process (as Trump points out) will be a nightmare and fulls of delays because it will simply be overwhelmed, even if simplified.
Next imagine that 200 houses in your neighborhood have been destroyed.
What will the bank calculate the loan value to be for a new home to be built in the center of a middle of burned out are with no schools and no stores?
I understand that, of course Los Angles will eventually rebuild and all signs of this disaster will ultimately vanish – San Francisco in 1906, Tokyo and Berlin during WWII teaches us this, but I predict that in the short run there must logically be an exodus from Los Angles and California.
“Oh, and don’t forget the additional costs imposed by California building codes… every home must have (as I recall) a solar panel system, and must not use natural gas appliances.”
But when the king pays the piper, the pipe must play the king’s tune.
Change the stupid codes, or the money pipe valves off… and the pitchforks go on BOGO.
A more fundamental issue is that taking money from 340 million people (actually, 131 million taxpayers–fun fact, another 26 million people filed tax returns in 2020, but actually got money back from the government (not a tax refund–but a check from the government that exceeded the amount of taxes that they paid)) to finance personal losses by 100,000 people isn’t in the Constitution. It isn’t clear to me why I need to contribute to rebuild a $5 million house overlooking the Pacific Ocean when the owners failed to adequately insure themselves. If my house burned down, I certainly wouldn’t ask my fellow citizens to do a national (and mandatory) “go fund me” for me to rebuild. The near total lack of personal responsibility will be the death of our country.
I live in the LA area but thankfully not in any of the fire zones.
I lucked into some good timing and managed to get the money for a new roof together late last year, with the work actually being completed this week. That was a necessity, since the insurance company was refusing to cover the old one (or resulting leaks) due to its age. I had plans for some other optional work (replacing cracked concrete in the yard, installing an outdoor outlet, painting the house, installing a hot tub, etc.) that are now on indefinite hold because common sense told me EVERYBODY in the trades is going to be busy and the coming shortage of building materials is going to be legendary. When I talked to the contractor I normally work with he confirmed it. Between the fires and the windstorms there’s a tremendous amount of repair work already on the market and when the permitting gets sorted and rebuilds actually begin it’s going to be insane.
There’s also the factor that a lot of illegals work in construction and landscaping. What the percentage is is unknown, as is how many will decide to risk it and stay, how many will be caught and deported, and how many will self-deport. The supply of workers is going to drop (potentially by a significant amount) just as demand is going up up up.
I have some empathy for people in California, that is tempered by the way people in California have been craping on America’s for a long time. Now their loony outlook has bit them really hard. I do not want to pay for their mistakes, or for my children and grandchildren to pay. They have F ed up big time. This was totally self-inflicted.
I don’t know why California is begging the Feds for money. They drove out the insurance companies with insane regulations and policies so it’s near impossible to get fire insurance and just last week voted to spend $50,000,000 to “fire proof” California from Trump. If they can waste that much money on such nonsense they can pay to clean up their own mess.
I should say “Trump Proof” California
“A week is a long time.”
It’s more than that. It rained here in the LA area yesterday and today. The ashes and charred debris are now a sodden mess and anything that survived the flames is now almost certainly water damaged because the residents weren’t allowed to go in and rescue whatever few scraps of their lives they could find. This rain was not a surprise. It had been in the forecast for over a week. Bass didn’t care. It probably didn’t even occur to her what her petty little power trip was doing to people who had already lost everything else.
I can’t type what I think of that … person … in mixed company.
Aid for voter ID law. Nice
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