Nicole Shanahan slams 'climate doomsayers', says California water problems are due to government failures not drought

Former running mate to independent ex-presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Nicholle Shannahan, has sounded off on those who are blaming the lack of water amid the California wildfires on climate change. Shannahan cited that the state has not been in drought since 2022 and said that it has been government officials failing the people of California. 

Shannahan posted, "For all you climate change doomsayers: California has been OUT of a drought since 2022. We’ve seen record rainfall, yet the CA Dept of Water Resources, big city mayors, and the governor have failed to use that water to increase ground hydration and strengthen emergency fire services."

"They looked the other way despite warnings from universities, fire departments, farmers, and consultants offering actionable plans. It’s mind-boggling negligence. The government in California has been taking orders from the wrong people for too long. It’s time they wake up, grow a pair, and get to work for the people," she added. According to Forbes, forecasters expect the drought to stay through 2025. 

As the wildfires in California have spread in the region in and around Los Angeles, many on the left have placed blame for the fire on climate change and drought as fire hydrants ran out of water and one of the reservoirs close to the Palisades fire was under construction. 

However many in California, including Hollywood elites, have been blaming LA Mayor Karen Bass for mismanagement as well as cutting over $17 million from the LA Fire Department. Bass was reportedly demanding that more funds—nearly $49 million—in addition be cut from the LAFD budget the week before the wildfires broke out.

In late October, Trump said that California Gavin Newsom was mismanaging the forests and environmental policy by directing water flowing down from Canada to go into the Pacific Ocean to protect a fish. In light of the fires, Trump told reporters, "It's very sad because I've been trying to get Gavin Newsom to allow water to come—you'd have tremendous water up there, they send it out from the Pacific—because they're trying to protect a tiny little fish."