President Donald Trump went toe-to-toe with several Democrats in California on Friday night during a briefing announcing his plans to help provide aid for the state as it recovers from historic fires.
The event started amiably, with Trump announcing he intends to waive all federal permitting requirements that would prevent property owners from beginning to clear their lots and start rebuilding their homes “tomorrow.”
“I’ve had so many calls from developers, and they want to come in,” Trump said. “The federal permit can take 10 years. We’re not going to do that. We don’t want to take 10 days.”
Since Jan. 7, the Palisades Fire has destroyed or damaged more than 6,000 structures, and the Eaton Fire north of Pasadena has destroyed or damaged more than 6,000 structures.
Trump asked Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to take similar steps to waive local permits to begin construction. He cited that builders would have to wait 18 months to get the necessary permits from local authorities.
“They just want to start, and they were very concerned with the 18 months,” Trump said. “So I’m sure you can get it down to, I would say, not even 18 days. They are ready, mayor, they are ready to start there.”
But Bass pushed back, telling Trump she signed “executive directives right away so that we could cut the red tape.”
“We could get people back building as fast as possible, and we’re going to continue doing that,” Bass said.
Trump interrupted her and told her that four groups said they were told they were going to have to wait 18 months to begin building.
“That will not be the case,” Bass said. “So I want you to know that we are expediting, that we absolutely need your help. We need the federal help.”
However, once again Trump reiterated the concern of an 18-month wait to rebuild and shared that cleaning up “hazardous waste” was the issue at hand for builders.
“Well, the hazardous waste, what’s hazardous waste?” Trump said to Bass. “I mean, you’re gonna have to define that. We’re gonna go through a whole series of questions on determining what’s hazard nope, nope. I just think you have to allow the people to go on their site and start the process tonight.”
After locking horns with Bass, Trump turned his attention to Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) who had pressed him to ensure that any aid that flowed into the state from the government wasn’t tied to any kind of politics.
Some Republicans in Congress have suggested linking aid for the state to a vote that would increase the debt limit, though California Republicans have shied away from getting on board with that plan.
“So I’m hoping that we can get these funds and that we don’t punish individuals for the policies of their state,” Sherman said. “You can disagree with them, and I think you’ve got some ideas.”
However, Sherman drew Trump’s fire following a discussion about needing to put restrictions on spending that include ensuring that future building projects are designed to withstand wildfires.
“Like water,” Trump said, who repeatedly returned to the poor water management in California that has been at the center of criticisms of the state’s response.
“Like water, you know, the party of common sense,” he said before turning to face Sherman. “See, we’re, Brad, we’re the party of common sense, you’re not.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
As Bass sat on the sidelines, Trump went around the room praising Republicans he had worked with and tearing into the fact that insurance companies have been forced out of the state — prompting thousands of policies to be canceled less than a year before the latest fires destroyed thousands of homes and left it unclear how the massive recovery effort might be funded.
“Every insurance company in the country left California. That’s why you have no insurance because you made it so impossible. People that think like you made it so impossible,” he said to Sherman. “And I’ll tell you this, I’ve never seen a state where almost no one has insurance.”
