The demand further politicized a fragile situation that has left Gov. Gavin Newsom scrambling to respond to the whims of the president — or even to speak with him at all — to secure billions of dollars from the federal government to help Los Angeles fight an ongoing firestorm and rebuild.

Trump has long portrayed California as a liberal bastion that puts environmentalism ahead of its residents. Most recently, he has taken aim at the endangered Delta smelt fish, which is protected by laws that Trump claims hinders the state’s ability to provide water to its residents or tamp down fires.