Trump demands two things for LA: Voter ID and to release the water

Days after taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Los Angeles and tour the areas damaged by the recent wildfires

Before traveling to California, Trump made a stop in North Carolina to survey the damage done by Hurricane Helene. 

While answering questions from reporters at the airport, Trump said there are two things he wants to see in Los Angeles – voter ID and free flowing water. 

He said if the city can comply with those requests, he will be "the greatest president that California has ever seen."

"I want the water to come down and come down to Los Angeles and also go out to all the farmland that's barren and dry. You know, they have land that they say is the equivalent of the land in Iowa, which is about as good as there is anywhere on earth. The problem is, it's artificial, because they artificially stop the water from going on to the land. So, I want two things. I want voter ID for the people of California. They all want it. Right now, you have no voter ID. People want to have voter ID. You want to have proof of citizenship. Ideally, you have one-day voting. But I just want voter ID as a start and I want the water to be released. And they're going to get a lot of help from the U.S.," Trump stated. 

RELATED: Court dismisses California's lawsuit against Huntington Beach's Voter ID law

The U.S. leader has been vocal about his disapproval of the way Gov. Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass handled the fire response. Earlier this week, he threatened to withhold federal disaster funds for Los Angeles. 

During his visit to North Carolina Friday morning, Trump said he is considering "getting rid of FEMA" after they "let the country down."

"FEMA has really let us down, let the country down. And I don't know if that's Biden's fault or whose fault it is, but we're going to take over and we're going to do a good job," the president said. 

"I’d like to see the states take care of disasters. Let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen. And I think you're going to find it a lot less expensive."

RELATED: Trump threatens to withhold federal aid for Los Angeles over state's water policies – what to know

LA residents have also criticized Newsom and Bass for their alleged water mismanagement as some fire hydrants in Los Angeles ran dry during the height of the firefight. 

In the wake of the wildfires, Newsom and Bass are facing possible recall attempts as residents have started signing petitions. 

RELATED: Trump targets FEMA while visiting disaster zones in North Carolina, California

Newsom Responds 

Newsom responded to Trump's comments by saying conditioning aid for American citizens is wrong. Newsom's office also tweeted various facts about voter ID and water policies saying "California pumps as much water now as it could under prior Trump-era policies."

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