Gov Newsom ‘Bends the Knee’ to Trump After Maligning President at NYT Event

California Governor Gavin Newsom disparaged President Donald Trump at the New York Times Dealbook Summit in New York City this week, while turning around and sending a letter to Congressional leaders asking for a $34 billion bailout for the Los Angeles County Palisades fires.

The NYTimes posted:

Newsom Warns That Trump Is ‘Trying to Wreck This Country’

The California governor weighed in on the 2028 presidential election, and called out executives for “bending the knee” to President Trump.

“I think he recognizes time of life is catching up with him, even though he can’t remember exactly why he went in for an M.R.I.,” Mr. Newsom said.

It was one of several combative comments that Mr. Newsom made during the 43-minute conversation. He said he hopes his social media strategy mocking Mr. Trump’s bombast will force the public to acknowledge how the president has ripped up norms of civility.

“There’s nothing normal about this,” Mr. Newsom said. “He’s a man child.”

Having previously assailed Trump’s retreat from Climate Action, the NYT posted on Facebook, Newsom saying about President Trump: “What an abomination. What an embarrassment. What a fraud.”

At the New York Times event, Newsom Says Trump’s Attacks Are “Not Normal Behavior.”

Newsom always plays to whatever audience he is addressing, so his comments aren’t unexpected or alarming, but they are bombastic and uncivilized.

We are sorry for the people who continue to suffer from California Derangement Syndrome.

Meanwhile, the Golden State is home to:
• the 4th-largest economy
• more Fortune 500s than any other state
• the largest company in world history
• more scientists, engineers & Nobel… pic.twitter.com/O8TfB1qAaw

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) December 3, 2025

Yet,  the California governor needs federal funding to bail him out of a really big political problem.

It is Governor Newsom who is “bending the knee” to President Trump. Newsom now claims he is “taking his advocacy for LA fire recovery to Washington to again call on the Trump administration to provide a proposal to Congress to immediately assist LA fire survivors in rebuilding their communities.”

Newsom has made President Trump the central focus of his Presidential campaign, disparaging and slandering the President at every turn. But the governor also wants the federal government to pay for the Palisades fire victims, 11 months after the fires. Newsom admits he hasn’t done anything in 11 months to get federal aid, and has all but abandoned the Palisades fire victims through inaction, causing the re-victimization of the fire survivors.

Why is Gavin publicly admitting he hasn’t done a THING to try and get federal aid in 11 months? https://t.co/NXTzZzEIDu

— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) December 4, 2025

Newsom’s statement Thursday is laughable:

“Governor Gavin Newsom, as part of his continued work on behalf of LA fire survivors, again called on President Trump to transmit a formal request to Congress to fund critical federal recovery programs to support Los Angeles.”

Note “as part of his continued work on behalf of LA fire survivors.”

Newsom hasn’t done any work on behalf of LA fire survivors. Just ask them.

Gov. Newsom could have lifted Coastal Commission regulations and ordered all state and local building regulations and restrictions lifted so that LA fire survivors could rebuild what they had. Instead, Gov. Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass have doubled down on draconian permitting, preventing most fire victims from getting a permit.

The LA City Council even delayed a decision to waive fees for Palisades Fire victims trying to obtain rebuilding permits… 11 months later. It’s as if they want the Palisades to remain as is – burned to the ground and ripe for alternate development.

Fox 11 reported “Almost 11 months after the Palisades fire, residents who lost everything are still waiting to learn whether L.A. will waive reconstruction permit fees. Fire victims packed City Hall shoulder-to-shoulder Tuesday as officials once again delayed a vote on the fee waivers.”

Newsom and Bass can give out free Medi-Cal health care, and free rent to illegal aliens, and free college to illegal aliens, and build homes for homeless drug addicts. But, when it comes to assisting the Palisades residents who pay a lot of taxes to the county and state, nada.

Gavin Newsom knows that no one in Palisades will ever vote for him again.

Newsom has some chutzpah claiming “continued work on behalf of LA fire survivors.”

In his letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Newsom claims:

“From completing debris removal in record time – clearing toxic hazardous waste from 9,000 homes in less than 30 days – to clearing remaining debris from over 10,000 parcels in six months, that partnership has been essential to facilitating a fast recovery.”

Debris removal was not done by any of Newsom’s teams – the EPA, Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA were largely responsible for Palisades debris removal. Some homeowners were allowed to do their own.

Newsom does tip his hand:

“the fire response has shifted into long-term recovery.”

No kidding. With few permits completed and issued in 11 months, this clearly is long-term, but is not “recovery.”

Here is Gov. Newsom’s ask:

“California is decreasing its request by $5,736,770,000 billion from February to $33,943,967,878 based on work that has already been paid out during the cleanup process, paid out in public assistance and disbursed to small businesses.”

But, it’s the breakdown of the recovery funding that is so interesting – Newsom wants the equivalent of federal welfare to bail him out of the Palisades disaster:

Business Loans: $4,296,000,000 – “California requests a supplemental appropriation for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Loan Assistance Program.”

Business Grants: $4,320,000,000 – “The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.”

“California requests additional funding of $4.32 billion in economic assistance to allow each of the impacted communities to complete projects in support of long-term recovery planning, reconstruction, and recovery of California’s businesses,
nonprofit organizations, and agricultural, tourism, and other industries.”

Low-Income Housing Tax Credit: $2,000,000,000 – “California requests an increase to the federal tax credit ceiling by $200 million in annual 9 percent federal disaster LIHTCs ($2 billion in total), which would support the creation of over 6,500 new affordable units.”

Tax Relief – “targeted tax relief will directly aid Californians in rebuilding their homes and communities. We support language that will help Californians receive tax relief.”

Public Assistance: $11,767,230,000 – “This supplemental funding is necessary to ensure stable funding is carried over for these critical efforts as we approach the expiration of the continuing resolution. The February request included a $5 billion estimate for household hazardous waste and debris removal (Public Assistance Category A). However, with those programs nearing completion and funding being disbursed directly through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this request has been revised.”

Housing and Business: $9,900,000,000 – “Funding of $9.9 billion is requested for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address significant damage to housing and infrastructure.”

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): $36,250,576 – “California requests $36 million in LIHEAP funds to ensure low-income households within the fire-impacted area have the financial means to heat and cool their homes or other temporary housing over the next two years.”

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG): $12,887,302 – “California requests nearly $13 million in CSBG funds to support fire recovery efforts to support economic stability and recovery assistance such as: providing job placement services; transportation services to work and school; provide direct aid for food, shelter, and medicine to low-income families in crisis; and connect individuals to healthcare.”

Child welfare grant programs: $1,000,000 – “California requests a total of $1 million for child welfare programs to support the more than 438 children in foster care directly impacted by these wildfires, resource families involved in child welfare, and support programs that aim to reduce the need for foster care.”

Social Services Block Grant (SSBG): $1,500,000 – “California requests a total of $1,500,000 in SSBG funding to ensure the well-being of vulnerable children, adults, and families in the impacted areas for community crisis care,
case coordination, and staff retention.”

Water Infrastructure: $432,300,000 – “California requests a supplemental appropriation of $432.3 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, to rebuild and repair water system infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the fires.”

Brownfields: $5,000,000 – “The state requests $5 million in brownfields assessment, cleanup, and multipurpose discretionary grants from EPA’s Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program.”

Air Quality: $2,000,000 – “The state requests $2 million for air quality monitoring equipment.”

Transport Infrastructure: $112,800,000 – “immediate assistance and resources to repair and rebuild California’s federal-aid highways and roads.”

Displaced Workers: $51,000,000 – “California Employment Development Department is pursuing a $50 million National Dislocated Worker Grant to implement a temporary jobs program.”

Workforce Childcare and Health: $375,800,000 – “Funding of $375.8 million is requested for the US Department of Health and Human Services to address fire survivors’ critical health and child care needs.”

“In addition, California requests $5.8 million in Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention Behavioral Health Preparedness Grants to support the integration of
behavioral health into emergency preparedness plans, including workforce support for managing mental health impacts during disasters.”

Federal Lands: $350,000,000 – “Funding of $350 million is requested for the U.S. Forest Service to carry out critical tasks related to post-fire recovery, community wildfire defense mitigations for rebuilding, and broader collaborative wildfire risk reduction projects.”

Mapping and Modeling – $2 million – “The state requests $2 million from USGS to perform landslide hazard mapping, assessments, monitoring, planning and communication, and to develop an early warning system aimed at protecting lives and property.”

GRAND TOTAL – nearly $34 billion: $33,943,967,878

Newsom wants to be the passthrough for this $34 billion bailout, possibly to shore up his $18 billion budget deficit. If the federal government is so inclined to help out the Palisades fire victims, they should cut Newsom and Mayor Bass out and deliver the money directly to the victims.