President Trump warned California lawmakers that he would be forced to “clean up” the state’s homelessness epidemic if they are unable to, during a briefing in Los Angeles.
“If they can’t do it themselves, we’re going to do it,” Trump said during a briefing on the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “The federal government is going to take it over, we’re going to do it.“
Trump has had a rocky relationship with Democratic officials in California on a variety of issues, prompting State Attorney General Xavier Becerra to file dozens of lawsuits against the Trump administration.
Trump made a similar threat to California in late December when he responded to a tweet from conservative pundit Tomi Lahren that called for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to take “accountability” for the dramatic rise in homelessness.
“Governor Gavin N has done a really bad job on taking care of the homeless population in California,” the president tweeted. “If he can’t fix the problem, the Federal Govt. will get involved!”
Governor Gavin N has done a really bad job on taking care of the homeless population in California. If he can’t fix the problem, the Federal Govt. will get involved! https://t.co/2z8zM37PUA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 25, 2019
California’s homeless population increased by 16.4% from 2018 to 2019, and 53% of all recorded homeless people in the United States lived in the state as of January 2019, according to Housing and Urban Development figures.
HUD Secretary Ben Carson was in California earlier this month taking part in a homelessness summit and announcing an investment into nine public housing agencies, which earned glowing praise from former California governor and staunch Trump critic Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In addition to Trump’s meeting with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, Trump was scheduled to participate in a golf fundraiser with Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, ranging from $100,000-$250,000 per person, before heading to a rally in Arizona.
