Elon Musk Reacts to Palisades, Eaton and Hurst Fires

Billionaire Elon Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the fires in California were "easily avoidable" and "nonsense regulations" are to blame.

"These fires are easily avoidable, but nonsense regulations in California prevent action being taken, so year after year homes burn down and more people die," Musk wrote.

Newsweek reached out to Musk's press team at X for comment.

Why It Matters

California has always been vulnerable to raging wildfires, but scientists have found that global warming has made them more frequent and more severe than they used to be. By the end of 2024, 8,024 wildfires had burned 1,050,012 acres of land across the state and killed one person, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Palisades fire has roared through Los Angeles County, spreading throughout the region spurred by strong winds. As of Tuesday night, the fire was estimated to have burned 2,900 acres and forced at least 30,000 to leave their homes. Two new blazes—the Eaton Fire near Altadena and the Hurst Fire in Sylmar—erupted late Tuesday.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency, and officials have warned that the worst may be yet to come as extreme winds that are challenging efforts to contain the fires are expected to continue for days.

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles on January 7. Elon Musk (inset) said on X that the fires raging in Southern California were "easily avoidable." AP Photo/Ethan Swope/Press Association via AP Images

What To Know

Musk shared his thoughts on X while reposting Austen Allred, the CEO of GauntletAI.com. Allred said President-elect Donald Trump said the federal government "should not be paying emergency wildfire aid." He shared photos of Trump's posts from 2019, which called out California Governor Gavin Newsom for doing a "terrible job of forest management."

"I told him from the first day we met that he must 'clean' his forest floors regardless of what his bosses, the environmentalists, DEMAND of him," Trump had posted on Truth Social. "Every year, as the fire's rage & California burns, it is the same thing – and then he comes to the Federal Government for $$$ help. Get your act together governor."

Newsom has posted on X that "mutual aid is pouring in from across the state to battle the #PalisadesFire, #EatonFire & #HurstFire."

Musk also reposted a comment by Natalie Danelishen, an administrative assistant of Free Cities Found, who said that Newsom "could have fixed the fire issue 5 years ago. Now his state burns thanks to his woke politics." He shared that his state has "secured Fire Management Assistance Grants from @FEMA to help further ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress" the fires.

In another post, Musk shared a comment by Natalie Winters, the co-host of Steve Bannon's War Room, about how President Joe Biden "has funded 16 Ukrainian Fire Departments." Musk asked, "But what about California?"

Elon Musk's New Prominence In Politics

Musk has been an ever-growing presence in United States politics. He reportedly joined Trump in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also spent Election Day at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida and has allegedly had a near-constant presence at the resort since the Republican's win against Vice President Kamala Harris in November.

Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy recently spoke with lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol. The two will lead Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and some Republican lawmakers are calling for Musk to become House speaker.

Musk recently urged lawmakers to vote down an original bipartisan spending bill and said any lawmaker who supported it should be voted out of office.

He has also been the center of the ongoing debate over the H-1B visa program. Musk, the world's richest man who has benefited from the H-1B program himself, wrote on X on Wednesday that there are not enough "super talented" and "super motivated" engineers in the U.S.

What People Are Saying

Austin Allred, CEO of GauntletAI.com, on X: "Trump said the federal government should not be paying emergency wildfire aid while California is refusing to do controlled burns and clean up forests in the name of environmentalism"

President Joe Biden, on X: "I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire. Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the state of California for the immediate firefighting costs.

"My Administration will do everything it can to support the response. I urge the residents of the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to stay vigilant and listen to local officials."

California Governor Gavin Newsom, on X: "California has deployed 1400+ firefighting personnel & hundreds of prepositioned assets to combat these unprecedented fires in LA. Emergency officials, firefighters, and first responders are all hands on deck through the night to do everything possible to protect lives."

Traci Park, a Los Angeles city councilwoman whose district includes Pacific Palisades, on Today: "It's been at least eight months since we've had rain in this area. It is an absolute miracle that we do not have any reported fatalities at this point. But as the sun comes up here in Los Angeles today and we get our first glimpses at the scale of the damage and the loss, it's going to be an absolutely devastating day for all of Los Angeles."

What's Next

The fires are yet to be contained as a dangerous windstorm fan the flames in Southern California.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, winds gust up to 60 miles per hour are expected to continue through Thursday, "potentially aiding in further fire activity and suppression efforts."