On Friday, President Trump outlined two conditions he wanted met in California before offering federal assistance to Los Angeles as it battles devastating wildfires.
“I want to see two things in Los Angeles: Voter ID, so that the people have a chance to vote, and I want to see the water be released and come down into Los Angeles and throughout the state,” Trump told reporters while touring hurricane recovery efforts in North Carolina.
“Those are the two things. After that, I will be the greatest president that California has ever seen,” he added.
Trump is scheduled to visit Los Angeles later on Friday to assess the wildfire damage and meet with local officials.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office responded to Trump’s remarks with a fact-check, pointing out that several other states also do not require voter ID. The governor’s office also noted that California is already utilizing its full water-pumping capacity under the same policies in place during Trump’s first term.
“Conditioning aid for American citizens is wrong,” Newsom’s office wrote on social media.
Meanwhile, Congress is debating how to proceed with federal assistance for Los Angeles, where wildfires have killed dozens and destroyed entire communities.
Republican lawmakers have suggested tying the aid package to a debt ceiling increase or changes in California’s fire management policies. Democrats, however, have strongly opposed placing conditions on disaster relief, arguing it would set a dangerous precedent.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that California officials could increase water flow to Los Angeles simply by turning on a valve, but experts have disputed this, saying the state’s water supply issues are far more complex. Fire hydrants running dry in recent weeks, they explain, were due to surging demand, not a lack of available water.
For years, Trump has also pushed for voter ID laws, citing unproven claims of widespread election fraud.
In response to one city passing a voter ID requirement, California enacted legislation set to take effect in 2026, which prohibits municipalities from imposing such requirements in elections.
