Governor Gavin Newsom Trump defended his handling of the raging fires in the Los Angeles area with a new website aimed at combating “misinformation” also linked to Democratic Party fundraising giant ActBlue, Fox News Digital has found.
Fires broke out in Los Angeles area since TuesdayThousands of acres and homes were destroyed and more than ten people were killed in its aftermath. Newsom, amid criticism for his handling of the fires, unveiled a new website this weekend to combat “misinformation” about California's fire prevention and emergency efforts, linking to a fundraising website through ActBlue.
“There is a lot of misinformation out there. We just launched a new website to ensure the public has access to fact-based data about the wildfires in Southern California,” Newsom posted on X on Saturday.
“Fact: – California has not reduced our firefighting budget. We have nearly doubled the size of our firefighting army and built the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world.
“California has increased forest management tenfold since we took office.
“-California won't allow looting. Get the facts: http://californiafirefacts.com“, the post concluded.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks on stage in California. (Getty Images)
Californiafirefacts.com lists a number of “lies” being promoted on social media and by news outlets and Newsom's “facts” responding to the claims, before promoting a donate button at the bottom of the site, Fox News Digital found at the time Early Sunday morning.
“Contribute to the California Fire Foundation,” the site says, identifying fundraising efforts as part of ActBlue, which will provide donations to firefighters and devastated communities.
The site's fundraising section adds: “Please make a contribution to the California Firefighting Foundation. It is a tax-deductible donation and the funds will go directly to support firefighters and the communities they serve, including direct financial support to affected residents.”
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A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
When they click the donate button, the user is taken to an ActBlue URL where people can donate between $25 and $1,000 — or a self-selected number. The donation page also boasts a political action committee for Newsom's Campaign for Democracy, saying it will register donors to get text updates from the PAC.
Newsom's political action committee was launched in 2023 and was promoted as an attempt to boost Democrats in “extreme” GOP-led states. Act Blue is Democratic mega PAC It focused on small-dollar donations that boosted elections and Democratic efforts, amounting to more than $16 billion since its founding in 2004, according to its website.
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ActBlue's URL promoting donations to the fires again states that any donations made will be delivered “directly” to “support firefighters and the communities they serve, including direct financial support to affected residents.”
Newsom's office told Fox News Digital that none of the donations made will be directed to the Democratic governor or his political action committee.
“Not a dime of these donations goes to Gavin Newsom or his political action committee. Governor Newsom is proud to have raised $450,000 for the Fire Foundation in small dollar contributions during these fires, and is grateful to the people across the country who have come together to help. Californians in their time of need,” Newsom spokesman Nathan Click said Fox News Digital said on Sunday.
Governor Gavin Newsom speaks to reporters following the debate between President Biden and former President Trump on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images))
the ActBlue's website states donations are made Via the platform includes a 3.95% processing fee, which is passed on “to the groups that use our platform.” The New York Post reported that ActBlue waived its donation fees, though the fundraising giant did not immediately respond to Fox Digital's request for comment on the reported waiver fees.
Contributions made through ActBlue to charities are processed by AB Charities and include a 3.95% fee that goes toward the cost of processing contributions, according to ActBlue. According to the group, processing fees provided by AB Charities do not go to political candidates.
Massachusetts Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren He also called on the public to make donations to those affected by the fires through the ActBlue link.
“To help support communities surrounding Los Angeles devastated by wildfires, can you split your donation between Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation And the United Way of Greater Los Angeles? 100% of your donation will go directly to these organizations,” Warren posted to X on Saturday.
Community
Fox Digital reached out to Warren's office Sunday morning for comment, but did not receive a response.
Conservatives and the governor's critics spoke out on social media about the donation link through ActBlue, calling the move “disgraceful.”
the The wildfires destroyed at least 12,300 homes The hurricane that struck the Los Angeles area over a period of five days killed at least 16 people, while thousands of others were forced to evacuate. Residents, including Hollywood stars, have revolted against Newsom over his handling of the devastation, including fire hydrants that ran out of water amid the fire.
“Why was there no water in the taps?” “What are you going to do, and will it be different next time, and I'm going to fill the taps myself,” asked one resident who confronted Newsom last week, according to Fox 11.
President-elect Trump called on Newsom to step down over the fires. (AP Photo)
President-elect Trump, who has a long history of criticizing Newsom over the state's repeated devastating fires, called on the governor to step down over the fires.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning to the ground. It's in ash, and Gavin Newcomb should resign. It's all his fault!!!” The president-elect made the announcement in a Social Truth post this week.
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jay Si Hong)
Earlier in the week, Trump blamed the Los Angeles County fires on Newsom and his environmental policies.
“Governor Gavin Newscomb has refused to sign a water restoration proclamation before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from heavy rain and snowmelt from the north, to flow daily into many parts of California, including areas currently burning.” “In an almost horrific way,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday.
Flashback: Trump has a long history of warning Newsom about “terrible” wildfire prevention
“He wanted to protect a basically worthless fish called 'Smelt', by giving it less water (it didn't work!) Care about the people of California. Now the final price is paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to flow into California! He is responsible for this. On top of that, there is no water for fire hydrants, and no firefighting planes. A real disaster!
A plane crashes as smoke rises from the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, in Los Angeles, January 11, 2025. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)
Newsom sent a letter to Trump, who will be inaugurated as the nation's 47th president on January 20, over the weekend inviting him to the site of the fires.
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“In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread misinformation from the sidelines. Hundreds of thousands of Americans — displaced from their homes and fearful for the future — deserve to see all of us working in their best interests,” Newsom wrote. Rapid recovery and rebuilding.
“With respect and an open hand,” he wrote.
