President Donald Trump reportedly took aim at California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday after revelations that a $100 million fundraising effort, FireAid, failed to deliver direct relief to wildfire victims — despite high-profile promises from celebrities and organizers that the money would do just that.
The star-studded concert, featuring performances by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Olivia Rodrigo, was billed as a charity event to support residents devastated by wildfires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades.
Actor Miles Teller assured viewers during the broadcast that “all the money raised will go directly to people who need it now and long-term efforts to build it back.” Samuel L. Jackson echoed that claim, urging donations even from those unable to attend: “All the money will go directly to people who need help.”
But months after the event, fire victims say they’ve seen nothing.
“There’s all sorts of skullduggery going on,” said Sue Pascoe, editor-in-chief of Circling the News, who lost her home in the Palisades blaze. “Basically wildfire victims and Palisades and Altadena got no direct relief.”
Her account is not unique. David Howard, who lost two homes in the same fires, told a local Fox affiliate: “I have not seen any benefit from the FireAid money, and I am very involved here — and neither have my neighbors.”
Altadena fire victim Mark Jones expressed similar confusion: “The FireAid was for us. So we figured — where is the money? Where is it going?”
According to FireAid’s official response, the money was never actually intended to be distributed directly to victims — contradicting the claims made by its celebrity spokespeople. “FireAid does not have the capability to make direct payments to individuals and that was never the plan,” the group stated, adding that funds were routed through partner nonprofits.
But the nature of those nonprofits — and how they plan to use the money — has only deepened skepticism. One organization pledged to build not just homes but “a more humane and democratic society by responding to the needs and problems of disenfranchised people.” Another promised to “cultivate egalitarian relationships based on trust and respect.”
President Trump, never one to mince words, exploded on Truth Social:
“‘FIREAID’ IS A TOTAL DISASTER. LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER DEMOCRAT INSPIRED SCAM. 100 MILLION DOLLARS IS MISSING.”
He continued:
“FIRES THAT, WITH PROPER MANAGEMENT, WOULD NEVER HAVE EVEN HAPPENED. GOVERNOR NEWSCUM REFUSED TO RELEASE BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER… WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD HAVE MADE!”
Trump added that he had intervened to release that water and pushed for swift federal approvals for housing permits, which he said the city had delayed for years. “Get the fire victims their approvals to rebuild, and do it now!” he demanded.
The controversy underscores a recurring issue in progressive-run states — big promises and flashy headlines masking a lack of concrete results for the people most in need. For many fire victims, the story is no longer about recovery. It’s about betrayal.
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