Newsom praises ‘very productive’ Trump meeting as he seeks more federal wildfire money

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised President Donald Trump after a “productive” meeting at the White House on Wednesday. The purpose of Newsom’s visit to Washington was to advocate for increased federal funding for recovery efforts following the devastating wildfires that swept through the Los Angeles area, destroying tens of thousands of acres.

During his visit, Newsom met with Trump to seek “unconditional disaster aid” and express his gratitude for the administration’s swift response to the crisis. The governor emphasized the importance of cutting red tape to expedite recovery and rebuilding efforts, ensuring that survivors receive the necessary resources and support.

In a statement, Newsom thanked President Trump for visiting the affected communities and for continuing to collaborate on supporting those impacted by the wildfires. He also expressed appreciation for the Environmental Protection Agency’s quick action in deploying over 1,000 personnel for debris removal.

Trump’s visit to Los Angeles last month to survey the fire damage coincided with the approval of $2.5 billion in recovery work by Newsom, with hopes of federal reimbursement. Despite previous criticisms from Trump regarding Newsom’s management of the crisis, the governor remains committed to working across party lines for the benefit of the affected communities.

Following Trump’s earlier accusations of mismanagement by Newsom and other California officials, the president had threatened to withhold wildfire aid until certain conditions were met. However, the recent meeting between Newsom and Trump signals a willingness to collaborate and find common ground for the recovery efforts.

The president acknowledged the importance of working together to achieve their shared goals, indicating a shift towards cooperation and unity in addressing the challenges posed by the wildfires. The focus is now on moving forward and finding solutions to support the affected residents and communities.

Anders Hagstrom, a reporter covering national politics and breaking news events for Fox News Digital, provided insights into the interactions between Newsom and Trump during their meeting. For more updates and news coverage, follow @Hagstrom_Anders on Twitter or reach out to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com with any tips or information.