CA Democrats Criticized for Special Session to ‘Trump-Proof’ State Amid Wildfires

California Democrats faced sharp criticism last week after convening a special legislative session to allocate funds aimed at countering anticipated policies from the incoming Trump administration. Critics questioned the timing, as the state grappled with devastating wildfires.

KCRA correspondent Ashley Zavala pressed Speaker of the House Robert Rivas during a Thursday session, questioning the need for a special session. “Is now the right time to have a special legislative session on allocating money to fight [President-elect Donald] Trump in a way that you could already do without a special legislative session?” Zavala asked.

Rivas sidestepped the question, focusing on the wildfires. “I’m here to address … these wildfires,” he said, according to Fox News Digital. “This is a historic, historic wildfire. This is, this is a historic event. These wildfires, as I mentioned, are going to be, quite possibly, some of the worst wildfires and disasters in the state and national history.”

Unconvinced, Zavala pressed further: “While this wildfire is happening, and while people are trying to understand what’s going on and are worried about disaster relief, worried about the ability to get homeowners insurance, your chamber gaveled into a special legislative session to prepare for Donald Trump in a way that you are already able to do without a special legislative session. So again, is now the right time for that?”

Rivas again deflected, emphasizing wildfire relief efforts. “Certainly our focus right now, as Speaker, Ashley, at this moment, my colleagues and I, we are acting with great urgency, great urgency, to ensure that we’re providing much-needed relief to Angelenos, to ensure that we understand what it’s going to take for this region to recover and to support those that have been most impacted by this disaster,” he responded.

Rivas further praised first responders, calling their efforts “unprecedented,” and reiterated the legislature’s commitment to supporting recovery efforts.

Special Session Aims to ‘Trump-Proof’ California

Both the state Senate and Assembly convened the special session with the goal of “Trump-proofing” the state, according to Zavala. Following Donald Trump’s election win, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the session to bolster the state’s legal fund in preparation for potential conflicts with federal policies, such as mass deportations and changes to energy production.

Trump criticized the move on Truth Social, writing, “He is using the term ‘Trump-Proof’ as a way of stopping all of the GREAT things that can be done to ‘Make California Great Again,’ but I just overwhelmingly won the Election.”

Criticism of State Leadership Amid Wildfires

Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have faced backlash for what critics describe as policy failures that worsened the wildfire devastation. These include allegations of neglecting to maintain reservoirs, allowing water to flow unused into the ocean, and failing to clear overgrown forest beds. The Pacific Palisades and Malibu neighborhoods were among the areas hardest hit, suffering extensive damage.

Critics argue that these oversights, coupled with inadequate water supplies for fire hydrants, have exacerbated the state’s inability to manage the disaster effectively.

WATCH: