Gavin Newsom Blames ‘Disinformation’ As California Wildfires Expose Leadership Failures

As devastating wildfires tear through Los Angeles, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling on President Joe Biden to silence what he labels as “disinformation.” Rather than addressing the core issues fueling the destruction, Newsom appears more concerned with controlling the narrative.

During a video call with Biden, Newsom claimed that “hurricane-force winds of mis- and disinformation” are spreading online, distracting from the ongoing crisis. “It breaks my heart as people are suffering and struggling that we’re up against those hurricane forces as well,” Newsom said. His remarks seem to prioritize silencing criticism over addressing the glaring issues that contributed to the wildfire disaster.

Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass are under fire for mismanaging resources critical to firefighting efforts. Budget cuts, staffing shortages and the prioritization of diversity initiatives over operational readiness have left the Los Angeles Fire Department overwhelmed. Reports also highlight that water mismanagement, including the refusal to release water from the California Delta, worsened the crisis.

President Donald Trump criticized Newsom for refusing to address the state’s water distribution problem. “I’ve been trying to get Gavin Newsom to allow water to come. They send it out to the Pacific because they’re trying to protect a tiny, little fish,” Trump said.

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Instead of focusing on solutions, Newsom is urging Biden to clamp down on public criticism. His call to action comes as the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been scrutinized for targeting online speech. Newsom’s request raises concerns about political leaders using federal agencies to silence dissent.

Biden’s administration pledged federal support for firefighting efforts but also echoed concerns about “misinformation.” This mirrors FEMA’s past tactics during hurricanes when the agency focused more on managing narratives than delivering aid.

Rather than accepting responsibility for the missteps that contributed to this crisis, Newsom seems intent on censoring criticism. This is yet another example of Democrat leaders labeling facts they dislike as “disinformation” to protect themselves from accountability.