California Governor Gavin Newsom accused former President Donald Trump on Thursday of spreading “misinformation” about the state’s ongoing water issues. Trump had suggested that water shortages in Southern California could be resolved by redirecting water supplies from Northern California to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Newsom dismissed this claim, saying there is no simple solution or “spigot” to fix the state’s complex water challenges.
The state’s water problems became apparent during the Palisades Fire, when firefighters struggled with hydrants that lacked adequate water pressure. Additionally, the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which holds 117 million gallons of water for the Los Angeles area, was empty and offline for maintenance. Trump has argued that environmental policies protecting species like the delta smelt have diverted water from people and critical uses like firefighting.
Newsom pushed back on these claims, stating, “It is very damaging when people believe such misinformation… Maybe the President just doesn’t know that there’s not a spigot that can be turned to solve all the water problems that he alleges exist, that don’t exist, as it relates to [the] state water system here in California.” He emphasized that California’s water system is divided between state and federal systems, which both face ongoing shortages.
California has not added a major reservoir to its state system in over 40 years, worsening water scarcity during drought years. Critics say the state’s reluctance to invest in new reservoirs and infrastructure has compounded the problem. Both agricultural and urban areas in California are under increasing strain from the limited water supply.
Newsom, who plans to meet Trump on Friday at Hollywood Burbank Airport, attempted to deflect some responsibility by pointing to federal and local authorities. However, Los Angeles relies heavily on the State Water Project, making the issue a shared responsibility between state and local systems.
