During a recent tour of wildfire-damaged areas in California, President Trump took the opportunity to commend the efforts of firefighters while pointing fingers at Democratic leaders for the state’s struggles in handling the disaster.

The president visited Pacific Palisades, a community hit hard by the fires, where he started by praising the fire crews. “Your fire department was so beautiful” and “in perfect physical shape,” he said at a meeting in a local firehouse. However, his tone quickly shifted as he criticized local officials, blaming them for a range of issues he claimed were hindering the firefighting efforts.

Trump specifically targeted water supply problems, even mentioning the delta smelt, a small protected fish, as a supposed cause. “They talk about the delta smelt, which is a fish that’s this big,” he said, gesturing with his fingers. “The people of California have to be protected,” he added, dismissing the need to safeguard the species despite experts stating the claims were unfounded.

The meeting turned tense as Trump clashed with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other Democratic leaders. He accused them of delaying rebuilding efforts with permits and red tape. Bass countered that cleanup and hazardous waste removal needed to be addressed before reconstruction could begin.

The president’s remarks drew cheers from local Republicans at the meeting, highlighting the deep political divide over the handling of the disaster. Trump’s visit underscored the ongoing challenges California faces in managing wildfires and the heated debates over responsibility for the crisis.