Trump is telling Fox News’ Sean Hannity that he may withhold aid to California to recover from devastating wildfires until the state adjusts how it manages its scarce water resources.
Trump has falsely claimed that California’s fish conservation efforts in the northern part of the state are responsible for fire hydrants running dry in urban areas.
“I don’t think we should give California anything until they let the water run down,” he says.
Local officials have said the conservation efforts for the delta smelt had nothing to do with the hydrants running dry as firefighters tried to contain blazes around Los Angeles. They said intense demand on a municipal system not designed to battle such blazes was to blame.
