On Friday afternoon, California Governor Gavin Newsom showed up uninvited to greet President Donald Trump as he arrived in Los Angeles to survey the damage from this month’s wildfires.
A Fox News camera captured the moment Newsom, who hadn’t been invited to meet Trump, stepped forward to speak with the president as he exited Air Force One. The two exchanged a few words, with Newsom displaying a firm stance, before sharing a brief embrace and addressing the media together.
Earlier that day, Trump had made headlines by threatening to withhold federal aid to California unless certain conditions were met. One of those conditions was that the state should store more water for emergencies—a claim Newsom later dismissed as “categorically false.” Neither man brought up that issue during their brief but friendly press conference.
When Trump described parts of Los Angeles County as looking “like they got hit by a bomb,” Newsom agreed with him.
“I appreciate the governor coming out and meeting me, Gavin, very much,” Trump said, nodding to Newsom. “And we will be talking a little bit.”
“Most importantly, thank you for being here,” Newsom responded. “It means a great deal to all of us. And not just the folks in Palisades, but the folks in Altadena that were devastated. We’re going to need your support. We’re going to need your help. You were there for us during COVID. I don’t forget that, and I have all the expectations that we’ll be able to work together to get this speedy recovery.”
Trump agreed, saying, “We will, we’re gonna get it done.”
Earlier in the day, while in North Carolina, Trump told reporters that Newsom had not been invited to join him on his Los Angeles tour. But Newsom had already made it clear earlier this month that he’d welcome Trump to California with “respect and an open hand” despite his criticism of the president for politicizing the wildfires. Trump, for his part, has blamed California’s environmental policies for causing or making the fires worse, even nicknaming Newsom “Newscum.”