Walls of fire devoured neighborhoods, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee for their lives. But as a cataclysm fueled by windstorms charred swathes of Los Angeles, Donald Trump spotted an opportunity.

The president-elect blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom for the massive fires that have forced tens of thousands to evacuate, saying the governor should have signed a declaration to pump more water through the state.

Trump, during the 2024 campaign, threatened to withhold federal aid to California wildfires as president if Newsom didn’t change that policy. He said at the time that he would give the Golden State “more water than almost anybody has,” allowing farmers to have full use of their land.