Karen Bass Defends Fire Cuts, Botches Relief Website [WATCH]

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, already infamous for her questionable leadership, held a press conference Thursday morning to address the wildfires wreaking havoc across her city and the greater Los Angeles area.

These fires, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and dry conditions, have spiraled out of control with zero containment in sight. As the crisis unfolds, Mayor Bass finds herself under fire—not just from the flames, but also from frustrated residents and sharp-tongued reporters, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

Bass was notably absent when the fires erupted earlier this week, from a previous planned trip to Africa.

Celebrate Trump’s Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

This follows her controversial decision months ago to slash $17.6 million from the city’s Fire Department budget. For those on the frontlines, the timing couldn’t have been worse.

During the press conference, Bass stumbled through her prepared remarks, even botching an emergency relief website for the second time. While she spoke of protecting lives and saving homes, reporters weren’t buying her platitudes.

🚨 Los Angeles’ DEI Mayor Karen Bass is ONCE AGAIN showing how incompetent she is

She just botched a relief website again while reading a prepared script word for word, like a 3rd grader presenting a book report

And there’s practically ZERO substance.

Will the left FINALLY… pic.twitter.com/sLsE8ALSag

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 9, 2025

One journalist interjected, pointing out that homes were burning and fire trucks were nowhere to be seen. Bass, visibly irked, snapped back, “Let me finish!” But her defensive tone did little to address the glaring failures under her leadership.

REPORTER: What explains this lack of preparation and rapid response?

LA MAYOR KAREN BASS: My number one focus…is that we have to protect lives, we have to save lives, and we have to save homes. Rest assured —

REPORTER: But that did not happen.

BASS: Let me finish! pic.twitter.com/Qo6E2nohqi

— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) January 9, 2025

Bass didn’t stop there. In a jaw-dropping attempt at damage control, she claimed her budget cuts had no bearing on the ongoing disaster.

“There were no reductions that would have impacted the situation that we have been dealing with,” Bass insisted, adding, “It’s most important to understand that we were in tough budgetary times, [and] the impact of our budget really did not impact what we’ve been going through over the past few days.”

🚨 #BREAKING: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass fires back at criticisms of her slashing the firefighting budget to the tune of $17M, urges people consider the “context”

“There were no reductions that would have impacted the situation that we have been dealing with.”

“It’s most… pic.twitter.com/JZWfxZIrEz

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 9, 2025

For the residents who’ve lost over 1,000 homes, seen 2,000 structures reduced to ash, and are mourning several lives lost, Bass’s statements ring hollow. This isn’t just spin—it’s next-level gaslighting.

Bass’s attempt to evade responsibility didn’t go unnoticed. On Wednesday, a Sky News reporter confronted her directly about her failed policies, leaving the mayor visibly stunned.

With wildfires raging and trust in leadership eroding, Los Angeles faces a dire situation. Residents deserve accountability, but if Bass’s press conference is any indication, they’ll be waiting a long time for answers.