President Donald Trump is blasting California Governor Gavin Newsom over the FireAid concert scandal, where $100 million in donations — raised under the promise of going “directly” to wildfire victims — reportedly never reached those who lost their homes.
The FireAid concert, a Hollywood-stacked event featuring Katy Perry, Olivia Rodrigo, Lady Gaga, and others, was billed as a one-night fundraising effort to help families devastated by wildfires in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. A-list celebrities publicly claimed the donations would go straight to the victims.
“All the money raised will go directly to people who need it now,” actor Miles Teller promised.
“Give what you can. All the money will go directly to people who need help,” echoed actor Samuel L. Jackson.
But that’s not what happened, according to multiple fire victims and local reporters.
Sue Pascoe, Editor-in-Chief of Circling the News — who lost her own home — said plainly, “There’s all sorts of skullduggery going on, and basically wildfire victims in Palisades and Altadena got no direct relief.”
Other victims confirmed the same. David Howard, who lost two homes, told local media, “I have not seen any benefit from the FireAid money, and neither have my neighbors.” Altadena resident Mark Jones added, “We figured the fire aid was for us. So, we’re asking — where is the money?”
President Trump didn’t hold back in his reaction. In a fiery post on Truth Social Friday, he wrote in all caps:
“FIREAID IS A TOTAL DISASTER. LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER DEMOCRAT INSPIRED SCAM. 100 MILLION DOLLARS IS MISSING. WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE LOS ANGELES FIRE VICTIMS, FIRES THAT, WITH PROPER MANAGEMENT, WOULD NEVER HAVE EVEN HAPPENED.”
He then turned the spotlight back on Governor Newsom’s long record of mismanagement:
“GOVERNOR NEWSCUM REFUSED TO RELEASE BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD HAVE MADE! I HAVE SINCE OVERRULED HIM, AND IT IS NOW RELEASED.”
Trump added that all delayed federal housing permits have now been cleared: “THE CITY IS YEARS LATE. GET THE FIRE VICTIMS THEIR APPROVALS TO REBUILD, AND DO IT NOW!”
While FireAid now claims the money was never meant to go directly to victims — despite what celebrities publicly stated — the explanation isn’t sitting well with many.
In a recent statement, FireAid claimed: “FireAid does not have the capability to make direct payments to individuals and that was never the plan. We partnered directly with trusted local non-profits…to reach communities in need.”
But the nonprofits in question raise more red flags. One group focuses on “self-determination in the Latino community” and aims to “build a more humane and democratic society.” Another promised to use the funds to “cultivate egalitarian relationships based on trust and respect.”
None of those objectives offer a clear answer to families still living in tents, wondering where the $100 million in donations went.
Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) has formally requested that the Attorney General open an investigation.
Meanwhile, FireAid’s celebrity backers and California’s political leadership have gone quiet — and Trump is making sure Americans don’t forget who let the victims down.
“They raised $100 million,” Trump said. “The fire victims got zero. That’s California Democrats for you — all show, no results.”
Americans showed amazing generosity in giving $100 million to support LA fire victims as part of the “Fire Aid” concert. Yet the money did not go directly to victims, and went to several questionable nonprofits.
I’ve asked the Attorney General to investigate. pic.twitter.com/n4UfBxzaAE
— Rep. Kevin Kiley (@RepKiley) July 25, 2025
The post Trump Jabs At Newsom After $100 Million In FireAid Concert Funds Don’t Go Directly To Victims appeared first on Real News Now.
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