Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The devastating Los Angeles County wildfires burst into the political sphere Wednesday, as President-elect Trump blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for “virtually apocalyptic” scenes of destruction.

Why it matters: Trump — always in campaign mode — and some of his GOP allies are seizing on the wildfires to try to score political points against a Democratic governor who’s widely seen as a potential 2028 contender for the White House.

Driving the news: As the deadly fires spread across the Los Angeles area for a second day, Trump claimed that Newsom had “refused to sign” a water restoration plan “that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the north” to flow into other parts of the state, including those being scorched by the fires.

• “I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA!” Trump posted on his Truth Social. “He is the blame for this.”

Newsom’s office fired back. “There is no such document as the water restoration declaration — that is pure fiction,” the governor’s team said in a statement.

• Newsom “is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need,” his office said.

Between the lines: Trump’s criticisms, however political, are built around a longstanding debate over forest management and water usage in California.

• Trump, in an apparent nod to California farmers, has long supported directing more water from Northern California to Southern California and the Central Valley.
• On the campaign trail last September, Trump said he would loosen protections for the delta smelt, a threatened fish that lives in the delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.

Reality check: There’s no evidence that redirecting the state’s water supply could have prevented the devastating fires in Los Angeles County this week.

• The fires were driven by 100 mph Santa Ana winds and dry conditions across the region. Many parts of Southern California haven’t had meaningful rainfall for more than eight months.
• Research shows human-caused climate change is leading to longer wildfire seasons in the western U.S., and has made severe seasons more frequent.

Zoom in: Other prominent allies of Trump took to social media to echo his jabs at Newsom and other California Democrats.

• Elon Musk, Trump’s most powerful ally-in-chief, wrote on X: “These fires are easily avoidable, but nonsense regulations in California prevent action being taken, so year after year homes burn down and more people die.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass drew criticism for being on a foreign trip as Southern California was hit by the fires, which have killed at least five people and forced tens of thousands from their homes.

• Richard Grenell, Trump’s pick to serve as envoy for special missions, blasted the Democratic mayor for being “in Africa while our city is literally burning to the ground.”
• Bass was in Accra, Ghana, for the inauguration of Ghana President John Mahama. A spokesperson told KTLA that Bass was on her way back to Los Angeles on Wednesday and was “actively engaged” in dealing with the crisis.

State of play: During the presidential campaign, Newsom was an active surrogate for President Biden and Vice President Harris. He’s often been a target of Republicans, who’ve tried to paint any problems in California as an example of failed Democratic leadership.

• Newsom also has been a rare Democrat who’s engaged with conservatives and defend his party’s talking points, including with frequent appearances on Fox News. That’s increased his visibility — and his sparring with GOP foes.

Flashback: Trump’s push to politicize the wildfires is reminiscent of his accusing Biden and FEMA of a poor response to Hurricane Helene just weeks before the 2024 election.

• After the storm tore through the battleground state of North Carolina, Trump falsely accused Democrats of blocking aid from reaching people in conservative areas.
• Misinformation spread rapidly, leading FEMA to issue a rare warning about how the uproar over Trump’s comments was hindering its work.

Go deeper: LA’s wildfires sparked by rare collision of climate factors

Axios’ Andrew Freedman contributed reporting.