President Trump slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom and the FireAid benefit concert after nearly $100 million raised for wildfire victims reportedly failed to reach them directly. Trump called the effort a “total disaster” and “another Democrat‑inspired scam,” and accused organizers of mismanaging or withholding aid from Altadena and Pacific Palisades survivors.
Despite celebrity assurances from Miles Teller and Samuel L. Jackson that donations would go “directly” to fire victims, local residents say none of the funds reached individuals. Sue Pascoe, a Palisades fire survivor and journalist, called out what she described as “skullduggery,” saying there was no direct relief to local victims. David Howard, who lost two homes in the fires, told Fox that neither he nor his neighbors received any aid.
FireAid responded that direct payments were never its plan. Instead, it positioned itself as a grant-making organization partnering with 188 non‑profits, distributing about $75 million so far across two phases: emergency relief services initially, followed by long-term recovery and wildfire mitigation. It claimed zero administrative costs and emphasized grants to community-focused groups rather than individuals.
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R‑CA) has formally requested a federal investigation into the situation, asking Attorney General Pam Bondi to determine how and where the funds were used.
