https://www.rt.com/usa/448413-trump-fema-california-fires/
Trump threatens to end FEMA aid for California fires, says state needs to ‘get its act together’
Published time: 9 Jan, 2019 19:17
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© Reuters / Leah Millis
In a Wednesday morning tweet, Trump complained that “billions of dollars” are sent to California to combat forest fires, but claimed that with “proper Forest Management (sic)” the fires would “never happen.”
“Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money,” Trump said, adding that it was a “disgraceful situation.” Wildfires ravaged California in November, leaving at least 89 dead and thousands of people displaced.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was sworn in this week, was quick to fire back at Trump, tweeting that disaster and recovery periods are “no time for politics” and claiming he was “already taking action to modernize and manage our forests and emergency responses.” A Democratic strategist who previously worked for Newsom also weighed in, quipping to Politico that Trump should be more concerned about the “dumpster fire that is his administration.”
Trump has made similar threats about FEMA funds before, saying in November that he might pull money for disaster relief because of what he called the state’s “gross mismanagement of the forests” – although Trump’s critics have pointed out that the federal government controls 60 percent of the forest land in California.
State officials have also dismissed Trump’s accusations, saying that forest management is only one element of the problem and claiming also that symptoms of climate change like stronger winds and dryer weather could also contribute to the fires.
Also on rt.com ‘Make America rake again’: Finns savagely troll Trump over bizarre wildfire gaffe
Trump’s threats don’t seem to match up with his actions, however. In November, he declared a state of emergency in California and tweeted that he was eager to “alleviate some of the incredible suffering going on.” He even visited the state to see the destruction firsthand and toured what was left of one destroyed town, which had formerly been home to 27,000 people.
The president found himself the subject of mockery on social media during the visit, however, after claiming that Finnish President Sauli Niinisto had told him that frequently raking the forest floor would help avoid fires – a forest management strategy that Niinisto later denied suggesting.
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Dotard at Civil War with Democrats shutting down Federal Govt! USA is near death!
https://www.rt.com/usa/448419-trump-walks-out-shutdown-talks/
‘Total waste of time’: Trump walks out of shutdown talks with Democrats
Published time: 9 Jan, 2019 20:43 Edited time: 10 Jan, 2019 05:03
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US President Donald Trump © Reuters / Jonathan Ernst
US President Donald Trump © Reuters / Jonathan Ernst
“Just left a meeting with Chuck and Nancy, a total waste of time,” Trump tweeted, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California). “I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier? Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works!”
After the meeting, Schumer and Pelosi denounced Trump for refusing to reopen the government, just as they had the previous evening.
"Again, we saw a temper tantrum because he couldn't get his way," Schumer told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday.
Federal workers are “as disappointed as we are that Democrats are unwilling to engage in good-faith negotiations,” Vice President Mike Pence told reporters after the meeting.
Also on rt.com ‘Humanitarian & security crisis’: Trump makes case for border wall amid government shutdown
The US government has been partially shut down for almost 19 days, after Senate Democrats refused to back a Republican-majority House bill that would allocate $5.7 billion to building the border wall. Democrats took over the House on January 3, and have proposed bills to reopen the government, but have rejected any funding to the wall, ever, calling it “immoral.”
“This is a crisis... it is a humanitarian crisis, it is a security crisis,” Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said. “And the reality is that walls work.”
Some 800,000 federal workers will soon miss their first paycheck, and each sides has accused the other of ignoring their needs and interests.
Prior to the meeting, Trump said he would be willing to declare a national emergency if the talks with Democrats failed. Asked by ABC reporter Jonathan Karl if he would be willing to reopen the government for the sake of federal workers, Trump asked him if he would do so in his place.
"If you would do that, you should never be in this position, because you'd never get anything done,” the president said.
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Trump threatens to end FEMA aid for California fires, says state needs to ‘get its act together’
Published time: 9 Jan, 2019 19:17
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© Reuters / Leah Millis
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In a Wednesday morning tweet, Trump complained that “billions of dollars” are sent to California to combat forest fires, but claimed that with “proper Forest Management (sic)” the fires would “never happen.”
“Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money,” Trump said, adding that it was a “disgraceful situation.” Wildfires ravaged California in November, leaving at least 89 dead and thousands of people displaced.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was sworn in this week, was quick to fire back at Trump, tweeting that disaster and recovery periods are “no time for politics” and claiming he was “already taking action to modernize and manage our forests and emergency responses.” A Democratic strategist who previously worked for Newsom also weighed in, quipping to Politico that Trump should be more concerned about the “dumpster fire that is his administration.”
Trump has made similar threats about FEMA funds before, saying in November that he might pull money for disaster relief because of what he called the state’s “gross mismanagement of the forests” – although Trump’s critics have pointed out that the federal government controls 60 percent of the forest land in California.
State officials have also dismissed Trump’s accusations, saying that forest management is only one element of the problem and claiming also that symptoms of climate change like stronger winds and dryer weather could also contribute to the fires.
Also on rt.com ‘Make America rake again’: Finns savagely troll Trump over bizarre wildfire gaffe
Trump’s threats don’t seem to match up with his actions, however. In November, he declared a state of emergency in California and tweeted that he was eager to “alleviate some of the incredible suffering going on.” He even visited the state to see the destruction firsthand and toured what was left of one destroyed town, which had formerly been home to 27,000 people.
The president found himself the subject of mockery on social media during the visit, however, after claiming that Finnish President Sauli Niinisto had told him that frequently raking the forest floor would help avoid fires – a forest management strategy that Niinisto later denied suggesting.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
Dotard at Civil War with Democrats shutting down Federal Govt! USA is near death!
https://www.rt.com/usa/448419-trump-walks-out-shutdown-talks/
‘Total waste of time’: Trump walks out of shutdown talks with Democrats
Published time: 9 Jan, 2019 20:43 Edited time: 10 Jan, 2019 05:03
Get short URL
US President Donald Trump © Reuters / Jonathan Ernst
US President Donald Trump © Reuters / Jonathan Ernst
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“Just left a meeting with Chuck and Nancy, a total waste of time,” Trump tweeted, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California). “I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier? Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works!”
After the meeting, Schumer and Pelosi denounced Trump for refusing to reopen the government, just as they had the previous evening.
"Again, we saw a temper tantrum because he couldn't get his way," Schumer told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday.
Federal workers are “as disappointed as we are that Democrats are unwilling to engage in good-faith negotiations,” Vice President Mike Pence told reporters after the meeting.
Also on rt.com ‘Humanitarian & security crisis’: Trump makes case for border wall amid government shutdown
The US government has been partially shut down for almost 19 days, after Senate Democrats refused to back a Republican-majority House bill that would allocate $5.7 billion to building the border wall. Democrats took over the House on January 3, and have proposed bills to reopen the government, but have rejected any funding to the wall, ever, calling it “immoral.”
“This is a crisis... it is a humanitarian crisis, it is a security crisis,” Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said. “And the reality is that walls work.”
Some 800,000 federal workers will soon miss their first paycheck, and each sides has accused the other of ignoring their needs and interests.
Prior to the meeting, Trump said he would be willing to declare a national emergency if the talks with Democrats failed. Asked by ABC reporter Jonathan Karl if he would be willing to reopen the government for the sake of federal workers, Trump asked him if he would do so in his place.
"If you would do that, you should never be in this position, because you'd never get anything done,” the president said.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
