In a gripping interview with Newsmax TV, President-elect Donald Trump declared that the damage caused by the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles is “much worse than you can see on television,” even going as far as to say that it is greater than if the city had been struck by a nuclear weapon.
The fires, which began in Los Angeles County on January 7, are now recognized as the largest in California’s history. As of today, over 16,000 hectares of land have been scorched, at least 24 lives have been lost, and more than 12,000 buildings, including the homes of several high-profile celebrities, have been destroyed. Meteorologists have attributed the rapid spread of the flames to dry and windy conditions, turning the situation into an overwhelming disaster.
“It’s far worse than you even see on television, if that’s believable,” Trump said in his interview with Newsmax anchor Rob Schmitt. “I’m already putting my developer cap on because it looks literally—just saw some very guarded pictures of it.” The president-elect was visibly shaken by the devastation, adding, “We’re going to do things with Los Angeles.”
Trump also predicted that as the smoke clears, “many more bodies will be found,” reported the US Beast. With the current toll standing at 24 confirmed dead, he remarked, “Only the dogs will find them. German Shepherds will… they can pick out the ashes immediately.” His words, though harsh, underscore the severe toll the fires have taken on the region.
The wildfires have caused widespread damage, with property loss and economic estimates reaching up to $275 billion. Thousands of families have been displaced, and entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash. Trump spoke of the destruction in terms rarely seen from a public figure, saying, “I believe it’s greater damage than if they got hit by a nuclear weapon. I’ve never seen anything like it. Vast miles and miles of houses just burned to a crisp. There’s nothing standing.”
Trump also suggested that the fires could have been avoided with better forest management. He repeated his long-held stance that California failed to manage its forests properly, particularly when it comes to raking fallen trees and clearing debris. “You have to maintain your forest,” Trump insisted. “When those trees fall, they become like matchsticks. You have to get rid of them.”
His comments, which have sparked controversy in the past, were also directed at California Governor Gavin Newsom, whom Trump implied wasn’t doing enough to address the situation. “I learned from Austria, from some of the countries like Finland. They said, ‘We are a forest nation.’” However, Trump’s reference to Finland’s approach was met with skepticism after President Sauli Niinistö clarified in 2018 that Finland’s forest management strategy does not involve raking, but instead uses controlled burns.