Trump clashes with Los Angeles mayor over wildfire cleanup

Bangkok Post Group

U.S. President Donald Trump clashed with Los Angeles Mayor Bass during a fire emergency briefing in the Pacific Palisades, California, on Friday (January 24). - REUTERS

Transcript

00:00But we are going to move as fast as we can, but we want you to be safe.

00:05We want you to be back in your homes immediately.

00:08But the people are willing to clean out their own debris.

00:11It doesn't cost a lot.

00:12Yes, and they can.

00:13You should let them do it because by the time you hire contractors, it's going to be two

00:17years.

00:18If a family...

00:19The people are willing to get a dumpster and do it themselves and clean it out.

00:25And they can do that.

00:26There's not that much left.

00:27It's all incinerated.

00:28That's right.

00:29You know, it's just going to take a long time if you do...

00:31You can do some of it, but a lot of these people...

00:33I know that guy right there that's talking.

00:35I know my people.

00:37You'll be on that thing tonight, throwing the stuff away, and your site will be...

00:40It'll look perfect within 24 hours.

00:42And that's what he wants to do.

00:44He doesn't want to wait around for seven months till the city hires some demolition contractor

00:48that's going to charge him $25,000 to do his lot.

00:53I think you have to...

00:54You have emergency powers just like I do, and I'm exercising my emergency powers.

01:00You have to exercise them also.

01:01I did exercise them.

01:02I signed an emergency declaration.

01:03Because I looked.

01:04I mean, you have a very powerful emergency power, and you can do everything within 24

01:08hours.

01:09Yes.

01:10And if individuals want to clear out their property, they can.

01:13But we can't even clean it and get to the house.

01:17Yes, but you know that you will be able to go back soon.

01:20When?

01:21When, Mr. President?

01:23Within a week.

01:26That's a long time, a week.

01:27I'll be honest.

01:28To me, everyone standing in front of their house, they want to go to work, and they're

01:31not allowed to do it.

01:33A week is a long time.

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