President Donald Trump reached out his arms and embraced sometime nemesis California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday after stepping off the plane to tour fire-scorched Los Angeles.
The Hollywood hug, reminiscent of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and President Barack Obama’s embrace after Hurricane Sandy, came just a few hours after the White House’s belated invite to Newsom. And it seemed to put Trump at ease. He ushered Newsom over to the assembled traveling press and the two promised to work together to help Los Angeles rebuild.
“We’re going to need your help. You were there for us during Covid. I don’t forget that, and I have all the expectations that we’ll be able to work together to get this speedy recovery,” Newsom said.
Trump agreed.
“We’ve got to get it done,” he said.
“Tremendous numbers of lives have been affected — a lot of real estate has been affected,” Trump continued. “Nobody’s ever probably seen anything like this. You can almost say, since the Second World War, would you think of it? I mean, nothing like this has happened, and we’re going to get it … permanently fixed so it can’t happen again and again.”
Newsom and Trump have feuded over scores issues — and the California Democrat was one of his party’s chief attack dogs during the 2024 presidential campaign. Trump was well aware, making Newsom, whom he derided as “Newscum,” a frequent punching bag at his own rallies. But the two have also come together in times of crisis, including natural disasters that happened during the president’s first term in office.
On the way to Los Angeles aboard Air Force One, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told media traveling with the president that “Trump is always willing to work with anyone to solve problems on behalf of the American people.”
“But certainly Gavin Newsom, or ‘Newscum’ as President Trump likes to call him, has wronged the people of his state,” Leavitt said.
On the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Trump suggested to Newsom that they would be speaking more later. Earlier Friday, Trump said California would need to implement voter ID requirements and follow his lead on water conveyance policy to qualify for disaster aid. Both are anathema to state Democrats. But in the press gaggle, it was all smiles, as a suited Trump in a black MAGA hat went back and forth with a casually dressed Newsom.
“We’re working to get something completed,” Trump said. “He’s the governor of this state, and we’re going to get it completed. They’re going to need a lot of federal help.”
Turning to Newsom, Trump asked, “Unless you don’t need any?”
Replied Newsom: “We’re going to need a lot of federal help.”
