Governor Gavin Newsom thanked President Donald Trump on Friday for visiting Southern California to assess the devastation caused by recent wildfires, marking their first in-person encounter since the start of their ongoing online feud over wildfire management.
Trump toured Southern California to survey the damage from the wildfires, which scorched thousands of acres, destroyed over 10,000 buildings in the Los Angeles area, and claimed nearly 30 lives.
Newsom greeted Trump on the tarmac as Air Force One landed. The two shook hands, with Trump appearing to give Newsom’s arm a tug—a signature gesture he’s used in interactions with world leaders, Fox News reported.
“Thank you first for being here. It means a great deal to all of us,” Newsom told Trump after they met on the tarmac of LAX in Los Angeles just after 3 p.m. “We’re going to need your support. We’re going to need your help.”
Newsom went on to say that Trump was with California “during COVID. I don’t forget that.”
The meeting marked the first face-to-face interaction between Newsom and Trump since Trump was sworn in as president on Monday. Trump expressed his appreciation for Newsom greeting him upon his arrival, saying “I think you’re going to see some very good progress” on fire recovery.
