‘Climate change is real.’ Gavin Newsom checks into Democratic convention from California wildfires

Gov. Gavin Newsom canceled a pre-planned primetime appearance at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday as fires raged across the state, opting instead to send in a cell phone recording made outside an evacuation center.

In the 2-minute cell phone video, shot while Newsom was on the road visiting wildfire evacuees, the Democratic governor said California’s raging wildfires are fueled by climate change and criticized President Donald Trump for threatening to withhold funding to fight them.

He pointed to the hundreds of lightning-sparked fires burning throughout the state as evidence that the country needs to adopt the stronger environmental protections that presidential candidate Joe Biden supports.

“The hots are getting hotter. The dries are getting drier. Climate change is real,” Newsom said during the video, which aired shortly before 6 p.m. on the West Coast. “If you are in denial about climate change, come to California.”

Newsom also criticized President Donald Trump for threatening to withhold funding from California “because we hadn’t raked enough leaves,” a reference to Trump’s assertion earlier in the day that the state doesn’t do enough to clear its forest floors.

“Can’t make that up,” Newsom said. “There is so much at stake in the next election.”

Newsom made the remarks as fires rage across the state, threatening thousands of buildings and forcing tens of thousands of Californians to evacuate.

“The segment that was originally planned didn’t make sense given the growth and severity of the state’s devastating wildfires,” Newsom spokesman Nathan Click said in a statement.

Click said the original segment was pre-recorded. Newsom had described it as less of a speech and “more of an engaged conversation with another well-known elected official,” although he wouldn’t say who.

“I’m honored and certainly humbled by the privilege of having that time and that moment to engage with someone I have tremendous respect for,” Newsom said during a press conference Monday, declining to give further details.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and a list of other prominent Democrats are also slated to address the convention Thursday.

This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 12:14 PM.