California Governor Gavin Newsom reached out to Donald Trump for assistance in rebuilding Los Angeles and preparing for the 2028 Olympics following devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. However, instead of providing much-needed support, Trump seems to be complicating the situation further. Last month, Newsom acknowledged Trump’s role in bringing the 2028 Olympics to Los Angeles, emphasizing that it was “an opportunity for him to shine” as the city looks to rebuild in anticipation of the global event. Unfortunately, Trump has not been particularly helpful.
In recent weeks, Trump has contributed to misinformation and made inaccurate claims, telling Sean Hannity on Fox News that he might withhold aid from California unless the state agrees to “let water flow down.” This echoed the false narrative that Newsom and state officials were intentionally preventing water from Northern California from reaching Los Angeles, supposedly diverting it into the Pacific Ocean with a nonexistent “valve.” “Look, Gavin’s got one thing he can do,” Trump said according to the New York Times. “He can release the water that comes from the north. There is massive amounts of water, rainwater and mountain water, that comes, too, with the snow, comes down as it melts, there’s so much water, they’re releasing it into the Pacific Ocean.” This claim, along with assertions that water from the Pacific Northwest was easily accessible for Los Angeles but instead funneled into the Pacific Ocean, has been debunked by experts who confirm no such pipeline exists and that the idea is impractical and costly.
Yet, Trump persists with this narrative. “Los Angeles has massive amounts of water available to it,” he stated at a Tuesday press conference. “All they have to do is turn the valve, and that’s the valve coming back from and down from the Pacific Northwest, where millions of gallons of water a week and a day, even, in many cases, pours into California, goes all through California down to Los Angeles. And they turned it off.” In what appeared to be an effort to substantiate his claims, Trump ordered the opening of two dams in central California, releasing approximately 2.2 billion gallons of water from reservoirs. He subsequently celebrated this action on Truth Social, proclaiming that “the water is flowing in California” and claiming it was “heading to farmers throughout the State, and to Los Angeles.” However, Trump’s actions ultimately created more problems rather than solving any.
Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute, a California water policy organization, pointed out two significant issues with Trump’s decision: the water was released during the wet winter season, squandering crucial resources that would be needed in the dry summer months, and it wouldn’t even reach Los Angeles. “They were holding extra water in those reservoirs because of the risk that it would be a dry summer,” Cooley stated according to CNN. “This puts agriculture at risk of insufficient water during the summer months.” Cooley further expressed concern, stating, “This release is extremely concerning. It’s providing zero benefits and putting California farmers at risk of water supply constraints in the coming months.” This situation prompted a significant reaction on social media.
Many users expressed their confusion and frustration. “I don’t understand why I am not seeing more outrage about this? I am not by any means a water expert but we need to hear more from those that are to debunk the Trump lie that he helped California with the water shortage,” one commented on X. Another added, “Controlling the water levels in the reservoirs is how California ensures there is water year-round. Indiscriminate release at a toddler’s whim is how you cause devastating droughts.” A third user remarked, “Let’s all bookmark this for when summer comes and the farmers are suffering from lack of water due to the dry season.” Others chimed in with skepticism about Trump’s expertise, with one saying, “But we were told he was an expert on everything once he knows about it!” and another commenting, “He doesn’t care. The worse off California is the happier he is.” In summary, while California sought Trump’s help to recover and prepare for the 2028 Olympics, he is currently contributing to more challenges rather than solutions.
