President-elect Trump has cast blame on California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for the raging wildfires in the Los Angeles region, most recently calling for him to resign.

“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” Trump posted to Truth Social late Wednesday evening. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!”

The president-elect’s criticism of Newsom has sparked a political battle over the fires that have killed at least five people and are far from contained.

Trump said earlier Wednesday that Newsom should have signed a declaration to pump additional water through California to avert the situation, casting blame on the Democratic governor. Currently, regulations limit the amount of water that can be pumped from the nearby Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in order to protect a fish called the smelt.

“Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this,” he posted online. “On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster!”

During his first administration, the president-elect issued a declaration that pumping more water from the Delta to supply farms would not hurt the fish. The incoming commander-in-chief made a similar argument Wednesday, claiming the smelt were “essentially worthless.”

Newsom went after Trump for his recent comments in an interview Wednesday.

“People are literally fleeing,” he said. “People have lost their lives. Kids lost their schools, families completely torn asunder, churches burned down.”

“This guy wanted to politicize it,” the California leader continued, pointing to Trump. “I have a lot of thoughts, and I know what I wanna say. I won’t.”

As of early Thursday morning, the Palisades fire, which is west of Los Angeles, has burned about 18 square miles. The Eaton fire, north of Pasadena, has burned about 16.5 square miles, and the Hurst fire in the San Fernando Valley has burned nearly 1 square mile. Officials said Wednesday evening a new fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills, The Associated Press reported.

At least 100,000 residents are under evacuation orders and rows of homes have been burnt to the ground as devastating winds engulfed the area in flames.

In Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustin said between 200 and 500 structures have been damaged or destroyed from the Eaton fire. At least 1,000 structures have burned in the Palisades fire, according to the AP.

Officials are saying it may be California’s worst disaster in history.

The Hill has reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.

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