As wildfires ravage Los Angeles County, leaving residents scrambling for safety, a resurfaced video of Donald Trump discussing California’s fire management policies has gone viral.
The clip, taken from the former president’s appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast three months ago, showcases Trump’s stern criticism of California’s environmental policies and lack of forest maintenance. With three major wildfires burning out of control and zero percent containment, Trump’s remarks are being viewed in a new light.
In the podcast, Trump delved into California’s refusal to build water reservoirs and manage its forests, which he argued were key factors in preventing catastrophic wildfires.
“They said, ‘We have no water,’” Trump said. “I said, do you have a drought? ‘No, we don’t have a drought.’ I said, why do you have no water? ‘Because the water isn’t allowed to flow down.’ It’s got a natural flow from Canada all the way up north, more water than they could ever use. And in order to protect a tiny little fish, the water up north gets routed into the Pacific Ocean. Millions and millions of gallons of water gets poured.”
Trump’s comments highlight a long-standing frustration with environmental regulations aimed at protecting the delta