Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is keeping the door open to conditioning California disaster aid on the state enacting voter identification laws, days after President Trump said he wanted to link the two priorities.

The demand further politicized a fragile situation that has left Gov. Gavin Newsom scrambling to respond to the whims of the president — or even to speak with him at all — to secure billions of dollars from the federal government to help Los Angeles fight an ongoing firestorm and rebuild.

Trump has long portrayed California as a liberal bastion that puts environmentalism ahead of its residents. Most recently, he has taken aim at the endangered Delta smelt fish, which is protected by laws that Trump claims hinders the state’s ability to provide water to its residents or tamp down fires.

President Donald Trump on Friday once again made it clear that he wants wildfire-ravaged California to bend to his demands if residents want to see any federal disaster aid. “I want two things: I want voter ID for the people of California.

President Trump on Friday said he wanted to see two actions taken in California before he offered federal support for Los Angeles as it grapples with wildfires. “I want to see two things in

Trump has repeatedly made unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud in California, both before and after his 2020 election loss.

The president suggested California shouldn't receive fire aid unless it institutes enhanced voter identification measures.