Democrat Mayor Addresses Growing Scandal With Post On X, Immediately Regrets It

It was a post that seemed innocuous enough—until it wasn’t. Currently, Southern California is in the grips of a devastating wildfire season, with Los Angeles County bearing the brunt of the destruction. The Palisades and Eaton fires have collectively scorched over 40,000 acres, leaving communities reeling from loss and uncertainty. The Palisades Fire, burning through Pacific Palisades, has consumed nearly 24,000 acres and remains just 13 percent contained. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire, near Altadena, has destroyed over 14,000 acres, with containment efforts making slightly more progress at 27 percent according to reports.

However, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday to share her visit to the Hurst Fire Command Post. In the photo, Bass is all smiles while posing at the site where first responders are battling the devastating blaze that has upended lives across the city. The Los Angeles Mayor has received a ton of criticism over her handling of the city’s wildfire crisis.

At the height of the devastating fires, Bass was in Ghana attending a presidential inauguration, a trip that caused even more backlash given her earlier campaign promise to refrain from international travel while in office. Adding to this are claims that recent budget reductions under Bass’s administration have undermined the Los Angeles Fire Department’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies. Reports suggest that a over $17 million were cut to the fire department’s budget may have impacted key resources, including water pressure issues in hydrants used to battle the blazes.

Bass’s post over the weekend read: “At the Hurst Fire Command Post, I met Angelenos and business owners donating goods to help firefighters and those impacted by the fire. Los Angeles WILL get through this.” By late Saturday afternoon, following a wave of criticism, Mayor Bass’s team edited the post to remove the original photo.

Despite the update, X’s version history preserved the earlier version, allowing the initial image to remain publicly accessible. It’s another tough look for the embattled mayor, who’s been under increasing scrutiny for her handling of multiple crises in Los Angeles.

Bass has defended her actions, asserting that she maintained regular communication with city officials during her trip and that the budget adjustments did not compromise emergency preparedness. Her administration has sought to redirect the focus to long-term strategies for wildfire mitigation, though this has done little to quell public frustration. As the wildfires’ aftermath continues to unfold, Bass faces mounting pressure to restore trust and address the concerns of residents who feel the city was unprepared for the disaster.

According to ABC7, the fires have claimed at least 24 lives, making this one of the deadliest wildfire events in recent memory. Sixteen individuals remain unaccounted for, and local officials fear the toll could rise as rescue teams continue their grim search. Evacuations have displaced nearly 180,000 residents, with more than 12,000 structures damaged or destroyed. Air quality across the region has plummeted, with thick smoke blanketing much of Los Angeles, prompting health officials to warn residents to stay indoors.

Efforts to contain the fires face significant challenges as meteorologists warn of the return of Santa Ana winds, with gusts forecasted to reach up to 65 miles per hour. These powerful winds, combined with dry vegetation and unseasonably warm temperatures, threaten to exacerbate the crisis, overwhelming fire crews already stretched thin. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency and called for a comprehensive rebuilding initiative. Residents are being urged to prepare for potential evacuations, stay informed through official channels, and limit outdoor activity due to hazardous air quality.