United States President Donald Trump has accused California officials and FireAid organisers of mishandling funds meant for the victims of the devastating January 2025 wildfires.
In a Truth Social post, Trump described FireAid as a “total disaster”, alleging that the $100 million raised for Los Angeles-area fire victims have gone missing.
He wrote: “FireAid is a total disaster. Looks like another Democrat-inspired scam. 100 million dollars is missing… fires that, with proper management, would never have even happened.”
Trump also criticised California Governor Gavin Newsom, referring to him as “Governor Newscum”, for alleged failures in water management during the wildfire crisis.
The president’s remarks follow a series of fast-moving wildfires that swept through Southern California in January, a rare occurrence during the winter season. Reportedly, factors such as unusually dry conditions, Santa Ana winds, and power lines damaged by gusts fuelled the deadly blazes.
As reported by California Globe, in early January, the Eaton and Palisades wildfires raged across parts of Los Angeles. And by the time they were fully extinguished in late January, 31 people had died, over 18,000 structures were destroyed, and tens of thousands of residents were displaced with destroyed or damaged homes.
Total property and home loses have been estimated to be between $76 billion and $131 billion, as per the report.
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About FireAid
FireAid was a high-profile benefit concert held on 30 January in Inglewood, California, to raise funds for the victims of the wildfires.
Organised by the Annenberg Foundation and partners, it featured prominent artists like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Olivia Rodrigo, raising approximately $100 million through ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships.
The funds were distributed primarily through grants to nearly 188 non-profit organisations providing emergency relief services such as housing, food, mental health support, and wildfire prevention efforts. FireAid clarified that it does not make direct payments to individual victims but works with trusted non-profits to reach affected communities.
While some fire survivors expressed frustration over not receiving direct aid, FireAid’s grant-based approach aims to broadly support recovery and resilience. The remaining funds are earmarked for long-term recovery projects including wildfire mitigation and sustainable rebuilding in the affected areas.
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FireAid said it has distributed approximately $75 million so far in grants to 188 non-profits and plans to allocate the remaining $25 million by August towards long-term wildfire mitigation, environmental resilience, and sustainable rebuilding efforts.
Although no fraud has been proven, California Congressman Kevin Kiley called on US Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the relief effort. David Howard, when asked whether an investigation is warranted, replied, “Yes. People need to know where this money went. That’s the only way to rebuild trust.”
(With inputs from California Globe)
