California Gov. Gavin Newsom told President Trump on Monday that “climate change is real” as the president received an emergency briefing on more than 90 wildfires that have burned millions of acres in three western states.
“Something’s happened to the plumbing of the world,” Mr. Newsom told Mr. Trump at an emergency operations center near Sacramento.
“We come from a perspective, humbly, where we submit the science is in, and observed evidence is self-evident that climate change is real, and that is exacerbating this.”
The Democratic governor urged the president, “Please respect, and I know you do, the difference of opinion out here as it relates to this fundamental issue on the issue of climate change.”
“Absolutely,” the president said.
But when another official said climate change is a main cause of the fires, Mr. Trump cut in, “It will start getting cooler.”
“Just watch. I don’t think science knows, actually,” Mr. Trump said.
Despite their differing views on climate change, the president praised Mr. Newsom for his “great coordination” with the administration on the crisis.
“Together we’ll keep the people safe,” Mr. Trump said. “I know we come from different sides of the planet, but we actually have a great relationship. Good man.”
Wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington state have burned more than 4.6 million acres and killed at least 35 people. Mr. Newsom said 4,200 structures have been destroyed in California, and 44,000 residents have been evacuated.
There are 16,500 firefighters battling the fires in California. The governor said the state experienced more than 14,000 lightning strikes in a three-day period recently.
The president told reporters earlier in the day that poor forest management in Western states is contributing to the fires.
“When trees fall down after a short period of time they become very dry — really like a matchstick … and they can explode — also leaves,” the president said. “When you have dried leaves on the ground, it’s just fuel for the fires. You drop a cigarette on it, you come back an hour later and you have a forest fire.”
Read rest at Washington Times
“Something’s happened…”
Someone did something.
Newsom is a jerk a total jerk and of course a Liberal Democrat electing this idiot was a even biggist mistake then reelecting Moonbeam Brown I suggest we put all the Eco-Freaks on these fires let them lern some real responsibility
moron newsom is just mouthing words he truly doesn’t understand. I’ve never heard any alleged climate scientist use the metaphor of plumbing to describe the climate, this is a veritable idiot tossing word salads in vain attempt to seem smart.