LA leaders are all smiles as they pose for a surprisingly upbeat picture following a sit-down with President Donald Trump — touting a “very positive” meeting Wednesday as they push to get wildfire victims the cash they say they’re owed.
Mayor Karen Bass and LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said they asked Trump to do more for families whose homes were wiped out in last year’s devastating blazes — and came away claiming they have his backing to crack down on tight-fisted insurers.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the pair painted the talks as constructive, zeroing in on federal aid and financial lifelines for struggling Angelenos still picking up the pieces.
“This afternoon we met with President Trump and Administration officials to advocate for families who lost everything. We had a very positive discussion about FEMA and other rebuilding funds as well as the support of the President to continue joining us in pressuring the insurance companies to pay what they owe – and for the big banks to step up to ease the financial pressure on L.A. families. Our job is to fight for our communities. When it comes to this recovery, our federal partners are essential, and we are grateful for the support of the President.”
The feel-good rhetoric comes as Los Angeles continues its long, painful rebuild — with thousands still grappling with insurance claims, rising costs and uncertain timelines.
Mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, an open critic of Bass, was quick to mock the meeting. He shared photos of the trip and highlighted the apparent ‘MAGA merch’ that those surrounding Bass apparently left with.
“Karen Bass sold her soul to Trump in a last ditch desperation move ahead of the election LMAO,” Pratt wrote in a post on social media.
Behind the scenes, the talks reportedly centered on unlocking more federal disaster dollars through Federal Emergency Management Agency, while also tackling the broader financial squeeze hammering fire-ravaged families.
City and county leaders have leaned heavily on Washington to speed things up, arguing that without serious federal muscle, recovery could drag on for years. At the same time, they’ve turned up the heat on insurers and big banks, demanding they loosen the purse strings for residents still stuck in limbo.
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