President Donald Trump met with Gov. Jerry Brown (D) and Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom (D) on Saturday to visit the Camp Fire that's still raging in Paradise, California.
Trump flew into Beale Air Force Base, about 36 miles south of the devastating fire, USA Today reported. Both Brown and Newsom joined Trump on Marine One to travel to the hardest hit areas. The first stop was in Chico, about 10 miles west of the fire, where firefighters set up their command post.
Paradise native Jamieson Greer, chief of staff to the U.S. Trade Representative, also joined the men on the trip. Greer's family still lives in the area and lost everything in the fire.
“Everyone has felt a sense of helplessness. All they could do is watch with a sense of horror,” Greer told the Sacramento Bee.
When Trump arrived in California, he sent out a short tweet to let everyone know which political leaders he would be meeting with.
Heading to California with @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy, @RepLaMalfa, and @KenCalvert. Look forward to being with our brave Firefighters, First Responders and @FEMA, along with the many brave People of California. We are with you all the way – God Bless you all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2018
Although Trump has been at odds with Brown and Newsom's forest management practices, or lack thereof, the Democratic leaders said it was time for all three of them to come together on behalf of Californians impacted by the fires.
"We welcome the President's visit to California and are grateful for the quick response to our aid requests, the Democratic leaders said in a statement on Twitter. "Now is a time to pull together for the people of California."
Trump had previously tweeted about California's forest management issues:
There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018
The Camp Fire is now the deadliest fire in the United States in a century. At least 71 people are dead and 148,000 structures have been destroyed.
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