AceShowbiz - As California grapples with one of its most severe wildfire seasons, President-elect Donald Trump has turned the environmental disaster into a political battleground, targeting Governor Gavin Newsom for the escalating crisis.

In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump labeled Newsom as "incompetent," alleging that the governor's environmental policies have exacerbated the wildfires blazing across the Los Angeles area.

The fires, which erupted in localities such as Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and Altadena, have led to mass evacuations and the destruction of over 1,000 homes, businesses, and schools. With extreme Santa Ana winds propelling the fire, containment efforts have been notably challenging, leading to frustration and heated exchanges between political figures and agencies handling the disaster.

Trump specifically criticized Newsom for blocking a proposed water restoration initiative that aimed to channel millions of gallons of excess rain and snowmelt into Southern California. According to Trump, Newsom withheld his approval of the initiative to protect a "worthless" fish species, the smelt.

"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 wrote.

Trump's attacks didn't stop with Governor Newsom. He also implicated President Joe Biden, referring to the duo as the "Biden/Newscum Duo" and lamenting the lack of water for fire hydrants and money for FEMA. "No water in the hydrants, no money in FEMA. This is what Joe Biden is leaving me. Thanks Joe!" he expressed in frustration.

This clash isn't a new development; Trump has previously taken shots at California's governance. In past years, he accused San Francisco of environmental violations and criticized Newsom for mishandling the state's homeless population and failing to prevent forest fires. This latest critique revives a long-standing feud between Trump and California's leadership, setting a contentious stage for policies and disaster management moving forward.

While the political flames rise, efforts on the ground to contain the actual wildfires continue. Firefighters are battling the intense blazes, and the estimated toll in both human and financial terms is still unfolding. As the wildfires continue to threaten lives and property, the interplay between state policies and federal oversight could significantly impact the region's recovery and future wildfire prevention strategies.