Following the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires that caused massive damage, claimed at least 28 lives, and devastated neighborhoods in their path, President Trump is scheduled to visit the Los Angeles area on Friday.
With many new fires starting this week as local and state officials begin the building process, Southern California is still on edge due to the ongoing severe fire weather conditions, which coincide with Trump’s first presidential trip of his second term.
Trump attacked California Governor Gavin Newsom and other authorities in a Fox News interview that aired on Wednesday. He made false charges regarding the state’s water management and threatened to withhold help for wildfires. Although he had not yet been given specifics of the president’s visit, Newsom told reporters that he planned to meet Trump when he arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday while he was in the region to sign a package of wildfire relief bills worth $2.5 billion into law.
Around 2:40 p.m., Air Force One is anticipated to touch down at Los Angeles International Airport. The White House said Trump will then travel to the Pacific Palisades neighborhood to tour the fire zone.
First Lady Melania Trump will accompany the president, who will visit with residents impacted by the Palisades Fire and representatives from the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The president will get a fire emergency briefing from County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Mayor Karen Bass, and a number of other officials at approximately 4 p.m. Several members of California’s congressional delegation, including Democratic Representative Brad Sherman, who represents the Palisades Fire-affected region, are anticipated to accompany him.
The Eaton Fire zone is not anticipated to be visited by Trump. Early this evening, he will leave Los Angeles for Las Vegas.