Gavin Newsom said Donald Trump made up the "water restoration declaration," a pact the president-elect alleges California governor "refused" to sign, claiming Newsom's refusal made the risk from wildfires, which devastating the state, even worse.
Two new wildfires erupted overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City, adding to the challenges faced by firefighters already battling multiple major wildfires that have killed five people, forced 130,000 residents to evacuate, and devastated communities from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena.
Fire crews are racing to contain the fires as they spread across the region, leaving widespread destruction in their wake. The fires have consumed a total of about 42 square miles—nearly the size of San Francisco.
The emergency has triggered claims and counterclaims from Trump and Newsom, who have sparred for years over the state's water policies.
Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday that Newsom's failure to sign what he called a "water restoration declaration" had led to the "ultimate price...being paid."
"Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way," Trump said.
"He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn't work!), but didn't care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!"
Newsom's office said the declaration didn't exist.
Quoting Trump's post, his office responded: "There is no such document as the water restoration declaration – that is pure fiction.
"The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need."
Newsweek examined both sides of the argument. While the "declaration" Trump refers to does not exist by that name, there have been actions and counteractions between Trump and Newsom's offices over water policy.
Searches for a "water restoration declaration" preceding the ongoing wildfires yielded no results. Newsweek could not find a record of Newsom "refusing" to sign a declaration that Trump put forward during his presidential term.
Newsweek contacted a media representative for Trump via email for comment.
However, as reported by the California newspaper The Desert Sun, in 2019, Trump signed new federal regulations allowing water to flow from Northern California into the Central Valley.
Limitations on water imported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to the Central Valley were designed to protect diminishing smelt and salmon populations.
Newsom announced a lawsuit in response, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra sued, requesting the decision to be delayed citing federal environmental violations.
The California lawsuit stated: "California has a sovereign and statutorily mandated interest in protecting species and their habitat within the state from harm.
"As the Supreme Court has recognized, state plaintiffs are entitled to 'special solicitude' in seeking to remedy environmental harms."
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, new rules introduced in December 2024, overseen by Newsom's office and President Joe Biden's administration, changed the operation of California's water delivery in the Central Valley. Officials said it would provide water for farms and cities and protect vulnerable fish species.
The notion that Newsom therefore turned down a "declaration," referring to federal action that Trump introduced anyway, is not accurate. However, it is clear that the governor has opposed Trump's actions on water policy, drawing a sharp response from Trump in turn.
Newsweek has contacted a media representative for Newsom via email for comment.
Trump's recent attacks stem from his belief that Newsom's environmental priorities, particularly the protection of the delta smelt, have contributed to water shortages that allegedly hampered firefighting efforts in Los Angeles.
However, state officials dispute the claim. Most water used in Los Angeles does not come from Northern California but rather from local aqueducts and groundwater. Moreover, the fire severity was compounded by high winds and smoke, not water shortages.
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