It’s hard not to notice a recurring theme here: the Democrat leadership in California seems to have mastered the art of bureaucratic gridlock, especially when it comes to disaster recovery. And Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass? Well, she might as well be the poster child for it after the latest roundtable showdown with President Donald Trump.
During a Friday discussion on the devastating wildfires that have ravaged California, destroying over 16,200 structures and tragically claiming 28 lives, Trump didn’t hold back. He confronted Mayor Bass directly, challenging her on her failure to use emergency powers effectively to cut through red tape and help devastated residents start rebuilding their lives. “You have emergency powers, just like I do,” Trump reminded her. “You have to exercise them also.” A simple and logical point, but apparently, that was too much for Bass to handle.
Her response? A muddled defense that did little to reassure anyone in the room. “If individuals want to clear out their property, they can,” Bass claimed. But that bold statement didn’t hold up for long, as frustrated residents in the audience immediately called her out. The truth was plain: they couldn’t even access their burned-down homes, let alone begin the rebuilding process. Bass quickly backtracked, saying residents would eventually be able to return. And when pressed for a timeline? The best she could muster was “within a week.”
Here’s the kicker: the fires started on January 7, and it’s already nearing the end of January. A week might not sound like much to Mayor Bass, but for families who’ve been standing in front of what’s left of their homes, waiting for permission to pick up the pieces, it’s an eternity. Trump, of course, didn’t miss the opportunity to point that out. “A week is a long time,” he fired back, emphasizing that these people are not safe now, and they need action—not excuses.
And let’s talk about that 18-month permitting delay. Seriously, 18 months to even start rebuilding? That’s not a recovery plan; that’s a bureaucratic nightmare. Trump highlighted the absurdity of it all, recounting stories from homeowners who are stuck in limbo because California’s regulations prioritize red tape over common sense. “It’s all burned,” Trump said. “It’s gone, it’s done. Nothing’s going to happen, it’s not going to burn anymore.” He’s right—these people aren’t asking for the moon. They just want to start rebuilding their lives.
WATCH: President Trump demands that LA’s Democrat Mayor Karen Bass let people back into their homes to start the rebuilding process.
All she does is sputter.
California Democrats are not in the same league as President Trump’s common-sense approach to disaster recovery. pic.twitter.com/mTz0jUs8vY
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) January 25, 2025
The residents in attendance were clearly fed up, and who can blame them? One woman shared that she couldn’t even set foot on her street until the day before the roundtable. Imagine losing your home, your memories, everything—and then being told you’re not even allowed to look at it because some bureaucrat decided it’s “not safe.”
Trump didn’t stop there, taking a jab at California Democrats’ failure to manage the basics, like water for firefighting. Yes, water. You’d think that’d be a given in a state prone to wildfires, but apparently, it’s too much for the “party of progress” to figure out. Trump summed it up perfectly when he turned to Rep. Brad Sherman and said, “Brad, we’re the party of common sense. You’re not, in all fairness. We like water to put out fires, it’s really quite efficient.” The crowd erupted, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that logic.
Trump SHAMES Democrat leaders TO THEIR FACES for failing the people they serve:
MIC DROP.
“They use the environment to make themselves feel good and they’re destroying our country. At some point, you’ve gotta put your foot down.”
pic.twitter.com/8vW4w0dmIr— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 25, 2025
The contrast here couldn’t be starker. Trump’s straightforward, results-oriented approach highlights just how out of touch California Democrats like Bass are with the real needs of their constituents. While Bass and her allies are busy making excuses, Trump is demanding action. Residents deserve more than vague promises and endless delays—they deserve leadership that prioritizes their safety and recovery. Unfortunately, it seems they’ll have to wait a bit longer for that.
