President Trump has been frequently critical of California state officials over their handling of the recent wildfires. And that has occasionally crossed over into downright false claims. Including one this week, about the water.
“The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond,” Trump said Monday on Truth Social. “The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!”
The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water,…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) January 28, 2025
This is, according to California officials, not true.
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“The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful,” according to an X post by the California Department of Water Resources.
The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful. pic.twitter.com/f81HJSehDq
— California Department of Water Resources (@CA_DWR) January 28, 2025
It’s very possible that Trump confused a reference to the Army Corps of Engineers with the actual Army.
WH @PressSec‘s explanation: “The Army Corps of Engineers has been on the ground in CA to respond to the devastation from these wildfires. … the water was turned on. That is b/c of the pressure campaign [Trump] put on state and local officials”
matches neither of these: pic.twitter.com/yuL10SjLz9
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) January 28, 2025
The fires are now at 95 percent containment, according to the Los Angeles Times, after the region received its first rain in weeks.
Meanwhile, Politico reported that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently visited California’s water delivery infrastructure.
Congratulations to the Administration and DOI’s Bureau of Reclamation for more than doubling the Federally pumped water flowing toward Southern California in < 72 hours. Was an honor for the DOGE team to work with you. Great job! @Interior @usbr pic.twitter.com/V68cw48BwU
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) January 28, 2025
“Congratulations to the Administration and DOI’s Bureau of Reclamation for more than doubling the Federally pumped water flowing toward Southern California in < 72 hours,” the DOGE’s X account said.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
