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Former Barack Obama press secretary and co-host of the “Pod Save America” podcast Tommy Vietor called Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for being abroad when wildfires destroyed her town.
Vietor responded to a social media post criticizing Bass on Wednesday, noting that he saw no sufficient justification or reason why Democratic mayor had not returned from her trip to Ghana by the time he wrote.
“Inexplicable decision not to come back sooner,” Vietor commented on a recent post by Vanity Fair reporter Nick Bilton.
CALIFORNIA FIRES RAGE ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY, THOUSANDS TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES
Bass has come under fire after it emerged she was out of the country in Africa when the fires broke out on Tuesday. Bass returned to her hometown on Wednesday.
While Bass was on a trip abroad, massive fires devastated most of the territory Los Angeles County. Five people died, homes and buildings were destroyed, and at least 130,000 people were ordered to evacuate because of the inferno.
Prominent figures argue that Bass’s incompetence contributed to the ongoing destruction.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was visiting Ghana when the fire broke out, prompting criticism from prominent media figures. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
In his post, Bilton blasted the mayor, saying, “Karen Bass cut $17+ million in fire department funding. She was in Ghana when the fires started, even though she knew about them (as we all did) days before. it was initially treated as a CAT 5 hurricane, but instead our current mayor saw it as not important enough to even be here.”
Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong interrupted the mayor over LAFD budget cuts, posting on X: “Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes and are seeking shelter. Fires in Los Angeles are unfortunately no surprise, but the mayor cut the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget by $23 million. empty fire hydrants raise serious competency questions…”
Soon-Shiong’s $23 million figure was inaccurate because the city cut about $17 million from the department last year. However, Bass’ original budget proposal called for $23 million in cuts.
A vehicle was destroyed in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (Ethan Swope/AP)
Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso said, “We have a mayor who is out of the country and we have a city that’s on fire and there’s no firefighting equipment. It seems that we are in a third world country here.”
Hollywood celebrities also spoke out against it city management. Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar wrote on Instagram: “From the city of Los Angeles, you want everyone to evacuate, but you have a complete gridlock and no traffic police on the roads to help.”
Influencer and model Amber Rose asked on Instagram, “How TF is the water pressure low in LA???? WTF fire hydrants are barely working here??? This is crazy!”
President-elect Donald Trump also criticized the mayor of Los Angeles, as well as California Governor Gavin Newsom. a recent post by Truth Social.
“Fire spreading rapidly for 3 days – ZERO Containment. No one has ever seen such bad numbers before! The gross incompetence of Gavin Newscom and Karen Bass… And Biden’s FEMA has no money – it’s all wasted on a new green scam! Los Angeles is total destruction!!!”
