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Seeking LA fire aid, Gavin Newsom is set to meet Donald Trump in DC
President Donald Trump listens to Gov. Gavin Newsom upon arrival on Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport before the president surveys L.A. fire damage on Jan. 24, 2025.
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Mark Schiefelbein
/
AP
)
A day after California lawmakers finalized approval of $25 million in legal funding to challenge the Trump administration, Gov. Gavin Newsom headed east Tuesday for his first D.C. visit of the new Trump era.
The Democratic governor left for Washington midday, his office announced, and is expected to stay through Thursday to lobby for assistance for the Los Angeles fires.
“The Governor’s trip is focused on securing critical disaster aid for the survivors of the Los Angeles fires and ensuring impacted families who lost their homes and livelihoods have the support they need to rebuild and recover,” spokesperson Izzy Gardon said in a statement.
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Gardon and a White House spokesperson confirmed that Newsom will sit down with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to condition aid for Los Angeles — including on changes to water policy and a voter ID requirement — since the devastating fires broke out nearly a month ago.
The rest of Newsom’s schedule is still coming together, Gardon said, though he plans to meet with Trump administration officials and members of Congress.
The trip to Washington follows a week and a half after Trump briefly stopped in Los Angeles to survey fire damage. Though the president conspicuously excluded Newsom from that tour, he did manage — after much public back-and-forth — to greet Trump at the airport, where the two men embraced. It was reportedly their first conversation since the president’s first term ended four years ago.
Since then, Trump has notably eased up on his criticisms of Newsom, whom he often refers to as “Newscum,” and California’s response to the fires. His support could be crucial for getting an aid package through the Republican-controlled Congress.
Newsom, in turn, has remained almost silent as the president continues to sign a series of controversial executive orders advancing sweeping changes to the federal government. The governor did not comment on Monday when the state Legislature concluded a special session, called by Newsom himself, to defend California in potential clashes with the Trump administration. Nor was he among a group of Democratic governors who, on a private call reported last week by the New York Times, urged congressional Democrats to fight back harder.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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