Jimmy Kimmel Slams Donald Trump Over Tweets About California Wildfires, Urges Viewers To Donate To Red Cross
Jimmy Kimmel blasted President Donald Trump on Monday night for his response to the deadly wildfires spreading across California.
The host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! — who turned 51 on Tuesday — noted Trump’s tweet on Saturday in which he blamed “poor forest management” for the fires, which have left dozens of homes destroyed and at least 44 people dead as of Tuesday morning. The president was quickly condemned by celebrities and others on social media for his insensitiveness and failure to offer his condolences and sympathy for the victims of the three wildfires.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018
“Everything about this tweet is wrong,” said Kimmel. “He didn’t even throw us a roll of paper towels, like he did in Puerto Rico,” he added as a joke, which drew laughs from the audience after they initially booed Trump’s tweet.
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Kimmel also went on to say: “The federal government manages most of the forest land in California, not the state, [Trump’s] the one who cut the funding, California actually pays more money to the federal government than it gets back, and of course he does nothing about climate change, which is why these fires happen.”
Trump also posted the following tweets over the weekend and on Monday, in which he eventually noted the casualties form the fires and thanked firefighters and other first responders.
More than 4,000 are fighting the Camp and Woolsey Fires in California that have burned over 170,000 acres. Our hearts are with those fighting the fires, the 52,000 who have evacuated, and the families of the 11 who have died. The destruction is catastrophic. God Bless them all.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018
With proper Forest Management, we can stop the devastation constantly going on in California. Get Smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2018
The California Fire Fighters, FEMA and First Responders are amazing and very brave. Thank you and God Bless you all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2018
I just approved an expedited request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of California. Wanted to respond quickly in order to alleviate some of the incredible suffering going on. I am with you all the way. God Bless all of the victims and families affected.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2018
Kimmel, whose show is filmed in Los Angeles, also explained how some members of his staff have been affected by the fires, including his co-executive producer Erin Irwin and her family. Kimmel revealed Irwin and her husband and daughter were forced to evacuate their home.
The late-night host then drew laughs when he showed a photo of Irwin’s husband holding a plush toy of NFL quarterback Tom Brady, joking that the doll was among the most important things for him to take with him as a New England Patriots fan.
After noting the extent of the damage caused by the fires — which burned down many celebrity homes and film and television sets, including part of the set of the HBO series Westworld and part of the mansion from The Bachelor — Kimmel thanked first responders and urged viewers to donate to the American Red Cross by texting CAWILDFIRES to 90999.
Kimmel responded to Trump’s tweet that finished with “Get Smart!” by saying, “You go first, and then we will,” which the audience loudly cheered and applauded.
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