California Gov. Gavin Newsom said President-elect Donald Trump's criticisms of his response to the wildfires tearing apart Los Angeles were "pure fiction."

Trump attacked Democrat Newsom for his management of the deadly wildfires saying the "ultimate price is being paid" for an "incompetent governor."

"Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way," Trump wrote in a scathing Truth Social rebuke. "He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn't work!), but didn't care about the people of California."

Tech mogul Elon Musk, joined in the criticism, on, X, formerly known as Twitter, the social media platform he owns.

Newsom's office said there is no such document as the water restoration declaration.

"That is pure fiction," Newsom's press office said. "The Governor is focused on protecting people, not playing politics, and making sure firefighters have all the resources they need."

At a press conference Tuesday Newsom said he was intent on not playing politics.

"There's a time and place for that," Newsom said. "The precious moments we have to evacuate, we don't have any time for that mishegoss."

Ric Grenell, who served in the first Trump administration and was recently named presidential envoy for special missions, was critical of the state's policies that he blamed for the damage the wildfire caused.

"The far-left policies of Democrats in California are literally burning us to the ground," Grenell, a Manhattan Beach resident, said.

• Trump: 'Newscum' to 'Blame' for 'Apocalyptic' Wildfires
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