- - Trump mocks low-income housing plan in Pacific Palisades after fires

Terry Collins, USA TODAYJanuary 30, 2026 at 5:39 AM

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President Donald Trump reiterated that he doesn’t want the construction of low-income housing in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, as it slowly recovers from last year's deadly wildfires.

During his first administration Cabinet meeting of the year on Jan. 29, Trump tapped into his real estate expertise, saying he's not going to allow it happen in the beach-adjacent community known for its upscale, expensive housing. The Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people, burned more than 23,000 acres, including nearly 7,000 structures. Almost 6,000 of them were single-family homes.

"Maybe it's politically incorrect, maybe it's not," Trump told his Cabinet members. "I'm not going to let these people destroy the value of their houses. I built a lot of low-income housing. I made a lot of money off low-income housing. I know more about it than anybody. We're not going to build."

Trump’s comments came several days after he had issued a second executive order aimed at speeding up rebuilding Southern California communities devastated by the Pacific Palisades and Eaton wildfires last year. Trump's order would allow homeowners to rebuild without adhering to "unnecessary, duplicative, or obstructive" permitting requirements, the White House said in a statement.

1 / 10California communities mark one year since devastating wildfiresResidents attend a rally for fairness, accountability and a vision for rebuilding their community, on the first anniversary of the deadly Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles, Jan. 7, 2026.

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During the Jan. 29 Cabinet meeting, Trump again blamed California Gov. Gavin Newsom, saying the fire spread due to a lack of water resources. Newsom's office has previously disputed those claims and expanded on why in an X post last year.

In July 2025, Newsom's office unveiled a $101 million plan for a "multifamily low-income housing development" in areas that were most affected by the Palisades, Eaton, and Hughes fires.

Trump told Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin on Jan. 29 to lead the charge to help residents rebuild and counter Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

"We're not going to build, we're not going to allow this guy build a low-income housing project on top of everything else in the middle of that mess that was created because they didn't allow water to come down from the Pacific Northwest," Trump continued. "And I'd like to have that stopped."

"There's going to be no financing for low-income housing," Trump told Zeldin. "Let the people build their houses. Help them as fast as you can, help the mayor and help the governor get their permitting done."

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 29, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinTrump criticized for second executive order

Trump's executive order related to the fire and subsequent comments about how California officials are responding to the crisis drew sharp criticism from Newsom, who continues to push for wildfire-related legislation and pester the Trump administration and Congress to release nearly $34 billion in federal disaster aid, relief he requested nearly a year ago. Newsom said on Jan. 27 that the president was mischaracterizing the state’s progress while attempting an unprecedented federal takeover of local permitting authority.

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Newsom’s administration dismissed the order and insisted local permitting timelines have already doubled in speed since the fires. The governor's office has repeatedly accused Trump of politicizing disaster recovery by ignoring basic facts on water supply and forest management, and not keeping his promise to provide federal funding to help wildfire victims.

"The Feds need to release funding not take over local permit approval speed – the main obstacle is COMMUNITIES NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO REBUILD. Mr. President, please actually help us. We are begging you," Newsom's press office said in a Jan. 27 post on X. "Release the federal disaster aid you’re withholding that will help communities rebuild their homes, schools, parks, and infrastructure. Please help us. Please!"

Trump said during his Cabinet meeting that once his administration starts making progress with the rebuilding, the governor, the mayor and others will want the accolades.

"They'll take the credit for it, watch," Trump said. "It will start, and they will take the credit for it, 'Look at the great job we did.'"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump mocks low-income housing for Pacific Palisades after LA fires

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