For California Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders in the left-leaning state, the still-raging wildfires could have been a chance to showcase their competence and unity with the White House in dealing with a natural disaster.

Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday that Congress should place conditions on aid to Los Angeles communities devastated by wildfires, alleging that state and local officials in largely Democratic California have mismanaged the state's water resources and forests.