Gavin Newsom, Governor A California wildfire victim confronts the president and demands to speak with him.

In an intense confrontation on Thursday, California Governor Gavin Newsom faced a distraught wildfire victim, Rachel Darvish, who expressed her frustration with the state’s response to the disaster. Darvish, a lawyer, approached Newsom as he was getting into his car near the devastated Pacific Palisades area, pressing him on several issues, particularly why there was no water pressure in fire hydrants to help the firefighters battling the flames.

In an attempt to deflect, Newsom raised his phone, claiming he was on a call with President Biden to discuss getting aid for the victims. However, this tactic backfired when Darvish demanded to speak to Biden directly, further escalating the exchange. Newsom awkwardly admitted he had tried to contact Biden multiple times but had not been able to get through. He mentioned having difficulty getting a signal, but Darvish continued to challenge him, asking why the President wasn’t answering his calls.

Darvish, who has been vocal in her criticism of both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, also accused them of being unprepared for the firestorm, which was fueled by the hurricane-force Santa Ana winds. She expressed disbelief at the lack of preparation, with people reportedly fleeing from their cars to escape the fires. Her frustration with Newsom’s response seemed to grow, particularly when she questioned the availability of water nearby that could have made a difference in containing the flames.

The exchange, which was captured on camera, became increasingly awkward as Darvish pressed for answers, highlighting the lack of preparedness and urgency in the state’s response to the crisis.