Newsom Slams Noem’s Trump Weather Joke Amid FEMA Chaos
UPDATE: California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken to social media, mocking a bizarre statement from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who thanked Donald Trump for a “peaceful hurricane season.” This comes amid ongoing turmoil within FEMA and a dramatic shift in disaster management under the Trump administration.
In a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Noem humorously credited Trump for a hurricane-free season, stating, “You made it through the hurricane season without a hurricane—you kept the hurricanes away. We appreciate that.” The comment drew laughter from attendees, but Newsom seized the moment, reposting the clip with a sharp retort: “ICYMI: Trump controls the weather.”
This year has been unprecedented; for the first time in a decade, the 2025 hurricane season, which spans from June 1 to November 30, saw no hurricanes making landfall in the United States. While this seems fortunate, the chaos within FEMA has raised serious concerns about disaster preparedness.
FEMA has faced significant challenges this year, including staffing cuts and a lack of leadership. David Richardson, the acting administrator, was criticized for his absence during the devastating floods in Texas over the July 4th weekend, where over 100 lives were lost. Richardson’s vacation coincided with the crisis, and he was reportedly unreachable, hampering the agency’s response.
Despite claims from DHS that FEMA’s disaster response was up by 126 percent, it took Noem a staggering 72 hours to mobilize resources to Texas, where residents faced delays in contacting the agency due to contractor layoffs. The fallout led to the resignation of Ken Pagurek, FEMA’s search and rescue chief, who cited mismanagement as a primary reason for his departure.
The continued instability of FEMA has prompted concerns about the agency’s ability to handle future disasters. The situation worsened when Karen Evans was appointed as the agency’s third administrator of 2025, raising eyebrows due to her lack of disaster response experience.
Noem’s comments, while intended to be humorous, echo dangerous conspiracy theories, such as those propagated by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, suggesting government control over weather events. As the nation grapples with serious implications of climate change and disaster response, the juxtaposition of humor and reality in Noem’s remarks has sparked renewed outrage.
As the fallout continues, the public is left to wonder: How will FEMA adapt and improve its response capabilities? What does this mean for future disaster preparedness in a time when unpredictability reigns? Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
