Ric Grenell, President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Newsmax Monday for failing to provide clear answers regarding water access for residents affected by the 2025 California wildfires.
Grenell expressed frustration over the lack of water access for wildfire victims in Southern California, accusing local officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, of failing to deliver clear answers.
Appearing on "Rob Schmitt Tonight," Grenell described his ongoing efforts to address the crisis.
"I've spent the weekend and today really wrestling through the bureaucracy, demanding answers," Grenell said. "I have a little group on my phone of Palisades residents who lost their homes; most of them lost their homes completely in this fire."
Grenell explained that while local officials claimed water access had been restored, some residents disputed those reports.
"We're double-checking them and making sure that we demand answers," he said. "We're waiting right now for the mayor to call me back to figure out why the water isn't where it's supposed to be. The excuse has been a little bit of water pressure issues, but that the water is on. Some of the residents that I'm talking to say the water is not even on yet."
According to Grenell, President Trump has directly intervened to expedite the restoration of essential utilities.
"President Trump demanded the water be on today, and I think we're making progress," Grenell said.
Grenell also addressed concerns over federal aid, saying the administration intends to ensure systemic changes are made before allocating funding.
"I think what he's doing is fact-finding, trying to figure out how do we make sure that this never happens again," Grenell said. "It's not just to have strings on this federal funding, but it's to make sure that the changes are made."
He highlighted the frustrations of residents who pay high property taxes yet are without water during critical moments.
"People are furious in this city. We live on the ocean. And yet residents who pay $50,000 a year in property taxes tried to turn on their hose, and they didn't have water," Grenell said. "I don't care what the excuse is; that's unacceptable. It can never happen again."
The interview comes after tensions between President Trump and Mayor Bass were reported over wildfire response and recovery timelines. The two leaders clashed Friday over how soon residents could return to their properties and begin rebuilding, according to the New York Post.
"We're going to demand changes from the state and local officials to make sure that never happens again before they get the federal dollars," he said.
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Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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