Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing backlash over her absence during the devastating Palisades Fire. Critics, including Elon Musk and Rick Caruso, accuse her of neglecting her duties during the state of emergency. Bass defended her response, stating she remained in contact with officials while abroad and returned as quickly as possible. The wildfires, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, have scorched over 17,200 acres, claiming at least five lives and displacing over 100,000 people.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass chats with California Governor Gavin Newsom while surveying damage during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, CA.Bass had been in Ghana, attending the inauguration of the country's new president as part of the U.S. delegation, where she also met with the country’s first female vice president. She returned to Los Angeles late Wednesday afternoon as the fires intensified.
Her absence amid the crisis raised questions about her leadership, placing her in the crosshairs of political critics who accuse her of neglecting her duties during a state of emergency. Among those leading the charge is tech billionaire and Donald Trump ally Elon Musk, who called Bass “utterly incompetent” and reposted posts that suggested she was a “DEI hire.
“This is going to be an effort of all of us coming together, and we have to resist any effort to pull us apart,” she said in response to the criticism. The wildfires, which began on Tuesday night in the Palisades area and quickly spread to more than 17,200 acres, are thethe city has ever seen. At least five people had died as of Thursday morning as a result of the wildfires, which were fueled by strong winds and dry conditions. More than 100,000 people were under mandatory evacuation orders.While the fires raged, questions also swirled around the city's readiness for such an event.
Bass, who was sworn in as mayor in December 2022 and is the first woman mayor of Los Angeles, has strong support within Democratic circles and has drawn the ire of conservatives. She served six terms as a Democrat in Congress and was a prominent figure during the 2020 presidential election, where she emerged as a contender for Vice President before Biden ultimately selected Kamala Harris. In 2024, she was invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention.
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