Donald Trump is convinced the devastating California wildfires will help him turn the traditionally left-wing state Republican.
The President elect, who takes power on January 20, is privately ‘fuming’ at the devastation wrought by mismanagement of the Golden State but believes it will work in his favor – and help the right win the state in the 2028 elections.
DailyMail.com understands that Mr Trump plans to make the point with a high-profile visit to California within weeks of his inauguration.
And it has been rumored that Tesla billionaire and ‘First Buddy’ Elon Musk, already charged with cutting government waste during Mr Trump’s new regime, might be drafted in to ‘save’ the state and ‘Make California Great Again’.
Despite its reputation as the most ‘woke‘ state in America, Trump and the Republicans picked up substantial gains in November’s general election. With the exception of coastal cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, large swathes of the California voted for him.
Last night a legal source close to the President told the Mail: ‘Donald sees this as an opportunity to turn California Republican red.
‘This is a state which has the fifth largest economy in the world and it should be thriving. Instead, the liberals have destroyed it with their woke policies. Crime is rising, the streets are filthy, homelessness is everywhere.
Donald Trump is convinced the devastating California wildfires will help him turn the traditionally left-wing state Republican.
The President elect is privately ‘fuming’ at the devastation wrought by mismanagement of the Golden State but believes it will work in his favor, and help the Right win the state in the 2028 US elections.
‘During the last election people in California were already hearing Donald’s message and voting for him.
‘It’s still one of the most liberal states in the US, but this total screw-up with the wildfires, the fact that the fire hydrants didn’t have enough water, the fact that Democrats constantly cut the fire budget, the fact that none of the vital forest and wild land clearance work has been done – all this supports Donald’s message that the Dems have screwed it up badly.
‘His message to ordinary Californians is that these wildfires are the final straw. Make the change and vote Republican and watch California come roaring back to prosperity.’
The head of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Kristin Crowley and LA Mayor Karen Bass, who was in Ghana when the infernos broke out, have come in for scathing criticism over their apparent lack of preparedness and, it is claimed, for, prioritizing diversity and inclusion over firefighting.
Although Trump is mostly associated with his hometown, New York City, and Florida, where he has his Mar-a-Lago mansion, the President-elect is known to enjoy spending time in California and has a number of business ventures there. He owns property in California including a golf course outside LA.
So, unsurprisingly, there also appears to be a personal element to Trump’s interest in the state and its misfortunes. He is said to hold a ‘personal loathing’ for California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been in power since 2019.
Mr Trump has even frequently referred to the perma-tanned governor as ‘Newscum.’
Gov Newsom has long been considered as a leading Democratic contender to run for president in the 2028 elections. Indeed, many believe he could have done far better in the November election than Vice President Kamala Harris.
And there is an additional element of intrigue as Gov Newsom was formerly married to lawyer and broadcaster Kimberly Guilfoyle. After leaving California, Guilfoyle became a prominent Trump loyalist, is the former fiancée of Trump’s son Don Jr, and was nominated as the new regime’s ambassador to Greece.
The last time California voted Republican was back in 1988 when it supported President George H W Bush (father of President George W Bush).
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a prominent Republican, was governor of the state from 2003 until 2011 but faced constant battles with the Democratic-controlled legislature.
California remains enormously wealthy with the largest economy measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any US state and boasting, on paper, one of the highest standards of living in the country.
Trump is said to hold a ‘personal loathing’ for California Governor Gavin Newsom (pictured amidst the LA wildfires), who has been in power since 2019.
Gov Newsom was formerly married to lawyer and broadcaster Kimberly Guilfoyle (the couple are pictured in 2004). After leaving California, Guilfoyle became a prominent Trump loyalist and dated Trump’s son Don Jr.
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured in 2003), a prominent Republican, was governor of the state from 2003 until 2011 but faced constant battles with the Democratic-controlled legislature.
Yet in recent years, it has been plagued by crime, drug abuse, homelessness and uncontrolled migration.
It has also become known as the world capital of DEI – woke policies designed to promote diversity, equality and inclusion – with many complaining they amount to reverse racism and the silencing of free speech.
Mr Trump has openly criticized California’s ‘sanctuary state’ policies which shield illegal immigrants from some aspects of federal immigration enforcement.
The source said: ‘He also thinks their climate change policies have gone too far – and that belief is backed by Elon (Musk) who is the inventor of the most successful electric car ever.
‘Trump will attack California and Newsom very hard during his first 100 days in office. Trump loves the state. He believes it should be the jewel in the crown of the US and instead it’s a woke disaster.
‘He’s coming in fully prepared to work on Jan 20 and you should expect to see several presidential executive orders aimed directly at helping ease the wildfire crisis, homelessness and illegal immigration.
‘Trump sees this as a golden opportunity for him to prove to ordinary working Californians that his politics work and he can Make California Great Again.’