Trump Disputes Climate Change As Reason For Record Fire Season

MCCLELLAN PARK, CA — During a Monday afternoon briefing with California emergency officials, President Donald Trump rejected the idea that climate change was a key catalyst in California's largest fire season on record. The president repeatedly asserted that poor forest management was the reason for the 3.3 million acres burning across the Golden State.

While emergency officials agreed with the president that vegetation management played a role in the catastrophic fire season, he dismissed a plea by Wade Crowfoot, California Secretary for Natural Resources, to prioritize climate change.

"I think we want to work with you to really recognize the changing climate and what it means for our forests and actually work together with that science," Crowfoot said. "That science is going to be key. If we ignore that science and sort of put our head in the sand and think its all about vegetation management, we’re not going to succeed together, protecting Californians."

"It’ll start getting cooler," Trump retorted. "You just watch."

Porter replied, "I wish science agreed with you," to which Trump replied, "I don’t think science knows, actually."

14 Dramatic Photos Of California Wildfires This Week

Trump landed at Sacramento McClellan Airport, outside the city of Sacramento, where he met with Cal Fire officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom to discuss the devastation of 2020's catastrophic fire season.

The president decorated and honored members of the California National Guard, thanking them for their heroic efforts in airlifting more than 200 hikers and residents from the high flames of the Creek Fire burning in the Sierra Nevada.

"Today, our country honors their courage," Trump said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story indicated that Thom Porter, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection asked president Donald Trump to consider climate change. It was in fact Wade Crowfoot, California Secretary for Natural Resources who asked Trump to consider rising climates.

These men are heroes.

Today we honored the California National Guard and their families with Proclamations from the State of California for their heroic rescue of 242 people from the Creek Fire in treacherous flying conditions. We are forever indebted to their service. pic.twitter.com/ktzMnuv5xw
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 14, 2020

Air Force One had landed at McClellan Air field in Sacramento. Shortly President Trump will meet with emergency responders regarding California's wildfire crisis @FOX40 pic.twitter.com/iwVZQBGE6f
— Karma Dickerson (@karmadfox40) September 14, 2020

President Trump deplanes from Air Force One. He says he is headed to speak to Gov. Newsom on climate change + wildfires raging on the West Coast pic.twitter.com/zKoHBst0is
— KTVU (@KTVU) September 14, 2020