GOP Sen. Britt says Trump will 'make sure the people of California have what they need'
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said Sunday that she is confident President-elect Trump will ensure Californians "have what they need" as they rebuild from the wildfires.
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Jake Tapper asked whether she thinks Trump should honor President Biden’s pledge for the federal government to cover 100 percent of the initial disaster response costs and whether Congress is prepared to act if more aid is needed.
“When it comes to the Republican conference, we actually had this conversation this week,” Britt said. “Certainly understand the needs of the people of California, and we'll continue to learn more.”
Britt said she was texting Saturday night with former Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) to get “an idea of what's going on on the ground.”
“And we will be ready to act,” Britt continued, “and so I know that President Trump certainly stands for the people across this nation and will make sure that the people of California have what they need.”
Trump has criticized the leadership in California for its response to the wildfires.
“The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place. This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.
The death toll from the Southern California wildfires reached 16 as of Saturday night, with five deaths caused by the Palisades Fire and 11 caused by the Eaton Fire, according to an update from the Los Angeles County coroner's office.
As of Sunday morning, the Palisades Fire was only 11 percent contained and had burned 23,654 acres. The Eaton Fire was only 15 percent contained and had burned 14,117 acres.