‘Was it incompetence?' Mel Gibson joins Newsom recall effort in wake of L.A. fires
Actor Mel Gibson, recently named one of President Donald Trump's special ambassadors to Hollywood, joined an effort to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom following the devastating and deadly Los Angeles wildfires.
The well-known movie star spoke in Atladena on Wednesday during a news conference held by Saving California, the group behind the most recent recall effort.
'We deserve much more and much better, and there is absolutely no adequate excuse the governor or mayor can make for this gross mismanagement and failure to preemptively deal with what they knew was coming,' Gibson said.
Twenty-nine people were killed in the Palisades and Eaton fires, which combined to burn over 37,000 acres and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.
Newsom has said that the L.A. wildfires, which broke out on Jan. 7 amid the strongest Santa Ana winds in years, could be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.
Gibson lost his home in the Palisades Fire and blames Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass along with Newsom for letting the wildfires explode in size, causing widespread devastation.
Bass removes Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Crowley
'Was it incompetence? Was it indifference, complacency, carelessness? Was it negligence? Absolutely,' Gibson said.
Gibson went on to add that a federal investigation should come with any federal aid for California.
Some of those in attendance called for Gibson to run for governor.
Newsom spokesman Nathan Click criticized the group and its efforts saying in a statement that the governor 'is focused on leading the state and the recovery from the L.A. fires – not politics,' the Los Angeles Daily News reported.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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