Disinformation

Gavin Newsom slams ‘hurricane-force’ disinformation over Los Angeles fires

Much of the criticism has come from Republicans — including President-elect Donald Trump.

By Dustin Gardiner

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told President Joe Biden on Friday the country must address the “hurricane-force winds of mis- and disinformation” spreading about the fatal fires devastating the Los Angeles area.

During a White House briefing with Biden, the Democratic governor said fire crews and first responders have been forced to deal with falsehoods originating online about the conflagrations that have killed at least 10 people and destroyed more than 10,000 homes and other structures in the region.

“People want to divide this country,” Newsom said as he spoke to Biden remotely from Los Angeles over a video screen. “It breaks my heart as people are suffering and struggling that we’re up against those hurricane forces as well.”

Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have faced heavy criticism over their response to the fires that broke out Tuesday amid a powerful wind storm that brought nearly 100-mph gusts to a drought-stricken metropolis.

Much of the criticism has come from Republicans — including President-elect Donald Trump, who on Thursday demanded on Truth Social that Newsom “open up the water main” in Northern California to send water south as fire hydrants run dry. There is no such central water valve in the state.

On Friday, Newsom didn’t list any specific claims that he considers falsehoods.

But social media platforms have been littered with artificially generated images — including fake depictions of the Hollywood Sign in flames — and myriad incorrect information about the status of the firefighting and the state’s water supply.

Biden, speaking from the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office with Vice President Kamala Harris seated nearby, told Newsom and Bass his administration would make disaster relief funding and other support available as quickly as possible.

“This is not going to be over even when the fires are out,” Biden said. “We’re going to be around.”

Biden also took a swipe at Trump, who during his prior administration said “raking” California’s forests would help prevent wildfires. The causes of the Los Angeles fires haven’t been determined, but Biden said the culprit with many fires is high-voltage transmission lines. He said the federal government needs to dedicate more funding to burying power infrastructure.

“The idea is, if we have these wires underground, which is a hell of a lot safer, we wouldn’t have as many fires as we have now,” Biden said.

The outgoing president and Newsom also addressed reports of looting in evacuation areas across Los Angeles, where 150,000 have been ordered to flee their homes. Newsom said the state has deployed 855 National Guard troops to patrol disaster areas while Biden said his administration would supplement that policing force, though he didn’t give specifics.

“There is clear evidence people are going into these survivors’ places — even if they’re evacuated and it’s not all rubble — and people are going in and they’re looting,” Biden said.