Official announcement from California state government or relevant federal agency

Trump Vows Immediate Rebuilding for California Wildfire Victims, Clashes with LA Mayor Over Delays

Jan 25, 2025, 09:06 AM

President Donald Trump visited Los Angeles to survey the devastation caused by recent wildfires and announced plans to waive all federal permits to expedite rebuilding efforts. He stated, 'We're going to waive all federal permits because a federal permit can take 10 years... we don't want to take 10 days.' During his visit, Trump engaged in a tense exchange with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, urging her to use her emergency powers to hasten the local permitting process and allow residents to begin rebuilding immediately. 'You have emergency powers just like I do, and I'm exercising my emergency powers. You have to exercise them also,' he told Bass. Trump criticized bureaucratic delays, emphasizing that rebuilding should start 'tonight' instead of waiting 18 months. He also suggested wildfire victims receive a 10-15% bonus on their home value for rebuilding, stating, 'They went through hell... They deserve to rebuild something even nicer.' Trump remarked on the severity of the destruction, stating that the area looked like it was 'hit by a bomb.' He pledged federal support to help California recover, saying, 'There can be no Golden Age without the Golden State.'