California Officials Refute Trump's Military Water Claims Amid Wildfires

Former President Donald Trump claimed that the U.S. military intervened to turn on water supplies in California amidst devastating wildfires, stating that emergency powers were used to activate water flow from the Pacific Northwest. The California Department of Water Resources quickly refuted this assertion, clarifying that federal water pumps had simply been restarted after a brief maintenance period. State officials have criticized Trump's remarks, emphasizing that California's water resources remain adequate and that the military did not partake in any water activation efforts. Trump's comments followed his accusations against California Governor Gavin Newsom, blaming state policies for water shortages impacting firefighting efforts. In response to the wildfires, Trump has issued an executive order directing federal agencies to enhance water deliveries in the state. The wildfires have resulted in significant destruction, claiming at least 29 lives and damaging over 16,250 structures.