California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff is using the state’s wildfires to criticize President-Elect Donald Trump, expressing concern over his response to the crisis. In an interview on ABC News, Schiff emphasized the importance of collaboration between Trump and California’s Governor Gavin Newsom to address the wildfire damage. He stressed that the state needs federal resources to fight the fires and provide relief. Schiff criticized Trump for lacking empathy in his handling of disasters, saying that during his time in Congress, he never considered whether a disaster was in a red or blue state before approving aid.

This stance contrasts with Schiff’s earlier comments, where he spoke about reaching across the aisle to work with Republicans on issues like housing and healthcare. Despite past criticism of Trump, Schiff now advocates for cooperation, acknowledging that solving California’s challenges will require bipartisan efforts.