We all saw it yesterday – Trump, on Twitter, of course, attacked California blaming the state for “poor forest management”.  Here’s the tweet:

“There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!”

The Twitterverse exploded, rightly accusing him of victim-blaming and calling him stupid, which are both true.  But what was generally missed?  60% of forests in California are FEDERAL, under authority of the National Forest Service, which is HIS RESPONSIBILITY.   His own 2019 budget reduces forest management spending by $170 million, and this comes on the heels of 2018 reductions.  He has signed executive orders ending clean air and water rules, and is known as a radical climate change denier.  Climate change is a now major factor in the devastating forest that now regularly rake not only California, but other western states.

The California Professional Firefighters Association responded to Trump’s attack pointing out that not only are 60% of forests under federal authority, but that another 30% are in PRIVATE hands.  They also scolded him for being such an asshole when hundreds of thousands of people are suffering and thousands of homes are being burned to the ground.

And that’s the point.