Governor Gavin Newsom sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump on Friday inviting the new leader to California to meet with fire victims, survey the devastation in Los Angeles County and join him in helping first responders thank you.
The invitation, which the governor’s office said was emailed to Trump’s team, marks a change in tone in the political battle between Newsom and Trump.
“In the spirit of this great country, we cannot politicize human tragedies or spread misinformation from the sidelines,” Newsom said. “Hundreds of thousands of Americans – displaced from their homes and fearful of the future – deserve to see all of us working in their best interests to ensure a speedy recovery and rebuild.”
Read more: Newsom’s letter to Trump
Trump has been an outspoken critic of Newsom since the fires began, blaming the governor and “his Los Angeles crew” for the disaster, though the Republican’s claim that a lack of water in Southern California led to a shortage firefighters led has been widely debunked.
In a briefing earlier in the day with President Biden, Newsom spoke out against the disinformation and lies.
“It breaks my heart because people are suffering and struggling that we’re also dealing with those hurricane forces,” Newsom said. “It affects real people.”
Trump previously traveled to California as president to map fire damage after the Paradise Fire in 2018 and a wave of wildfires in 2020.
The governor also called Friday for an investigation into water supply problems that left fire hydrants dry and hampered firefighting efforts.
Staff writer Faith Pinho contributed to this report.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
