Trump Says He Will Withhold Disaster Money From California Unless State Renegs On Water Usage Rules

Speaking from the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes on Friday, former President Donald Trump said that, if elected, he would withhold federal disaster money from California until Governor Gavin Newsom allows more water to go to farmlands and cities in the Southern part of the state.

For years, Trump and California have been at odds over water usage in California. During his term in office, Trump constantly battled California over where water flowed, with Newsom and California pushing more water for environmental reasons, such as releasing water from reservoirs in drought years to help protect endangered fish species, while Trump pushed for more water to go to farms. This came to a head in 2020, with then-President Trump signing an order to divert water to farms in California, only for the state to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration the very next day.

This water diversion soon bent towards environmental reasons during the Biden years. When the megadrought occurred in the early 2020s, California’s environmental diversion programs, particularly in releasing water from reservoirs for water outflow for fish, began being severely challenged. More Californians came out against the state policies, with farmers warning that more diversions could decimate the California farm industry, even with city and rural conservation measures coming into place.

However, wet winters in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 erased the drought. Now drought free, and reservoirs literally overflowing, the state went back to having enough water for urban, rural, and environmental uses. However, with future droughts likely on the horizon, future battles between the state and others over water usage is likely to come. Both Biden and Newsom are attempting to put federal and state laws into place by January so that, in case Trump wins, he may not be able to do as much about water usage compared to 2020. Speaking from Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County on Friday, Trump struck back in his own way, saying that he would force California to bend to federal rules on water usage.

“Gavin Newscum [sic] is going to sign those papers,” said Trump on Friday. “If he doesn’t sign those papers, we won’t give him money to put out all his fires, and if we don’t give him the money to put out his fires, he’s got problems. To protect a little tiny fish called a ‘smelt,’ they send millions and millions of gallons of water out to the Pacific Ocean. If they turned it back, all of that water would come right down here and right into Los Angeles.

“I’m here today in California with a very simple message for the American people: We cannot allow comrade Kamala Harris and the communist left to do to America what they did to California. The state of California is a mess, with people leaving, and nothing’s gonna stop them. Those fields are going to be all green instead of 1% green. And maybe even more important, you’re not going to have illegal immigrants pouring into your country and killing your family. You’re not going to have the problems that you have right now. We’re going to lower your taxes. But with this group, everything is dead. The water coming here is dead. He’s a lousy governor.”

Newsom responded swiftly on Friday, posting within minutes on X that “Every voter should be made aware of this. Donald Trump just admitted he will block emergency disaster funds to settle political vendettas. Today it’s California’s wildfires. Tomorrow it could be hurricane funding for North Carolina or flooding assistance for homeowners in Pennsylvania. Donald Trump doesn’t care about America — he only cares about himself.”

Every voter should be made aware of this.@realDonaldTrump just admitted he will block emergency disaster funds to settle political vendettas.

Today it’s California’s wildfires.

Tomorrow it could be hurricane funding for North Carolina or flooding assistance for homeowners in… pic.twitter.com/bIg6v2lMJ1

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 13, 2024

For those who look into California’s water issues, another fight between Trump and California in the coming years, or even Republicans going after state water usage, could turn ugly once again.

“Every side is gearing up for a fight,” explained Jack Wesley, a water systems consultant for farms and multi-family homes, to the Globe on Friday. “Trump and the GOP have these plans for more agricultural use, the state is environmental, and the federal plan is trying to make sure urban areas get water. Right now there’s no drought, so all of this is just talk right now. But as soon as the next drought come, there will be fights over water once again. And it’s either huge new water restrictions in cities, farms going drier once again, or endangered fish not getting the water.

“And it will all come down to who has the most powerful laws and who is best legally standing. This will be fought in courtrooms for years most likely.”

As of Friday evening, Trump has yet to respond to Newsom’s tweets.