Vice President-elect JD Vance defended President-elect Donald Trump against allegations that he would withhold federal aid from California due to mismanagement of wildfire relief funds. Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” Vance dismissed the claims as politically motivated misinformation. He emphasized that Trump cares about all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, and was only advocating for more efficient use of disaster relief funds. The controversy stemmed from Trump’s September 2024 remarks, where he criticized California’s handling of wildfire prevention and disaster relief. Critics argued Trump was using disaster relief as a political tool, but Vance clarified that Trump was focused on accountability. California Governor Gavin Newsom called for continued federal support, stressing that disaster relief should not become a political issue, and bipartisan efforts have historically secured aid for wildfire recovery.