Trump on Hegseth's Confirmation: 'Winning Is What Matters'; in Los Angeles: Permits in 'Not Even 18 Days' (January 24, 2025)

Asked if he was disappointed that Sen. Mitch McConnell voted no, Trump said: “No, I didn’t even know that. No, I don’t know that. I just heard that we won. Winning is what matters, right?” [1]

“I think Pete is going to be a great Secretary of Defense—Pete Hegseth—and we’re honored to have him,” he said [1].

The video above shows Trump in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project and the Federal Register [1][2][3][4][5].

”Pete’s a Very, Very Good Man”

That morning at the White House, before the final vote, Trump had been asked about the fight. “Look, whatever it is, it is. He’s a good man. I don’t know what’s going to happen. You never know with those things but Pete’s a very, very good man. I hope he makes it. I hope he makes it. But I was very surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do that,” Trump said, according to the White House pool report [2].

”Like You Got Hit by a Bomb”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom met Trump at the airport. “Most importantly, thank you for being here. It means a great deal to all of us, not just the folks in Palisades, but folks in Altadena that were devastated,” Newsom said [4].

“And they’ll be some ways, but it’s like you got hit by a bomb, right?” Trump said. “And we’re going to get it fixed, and we’ll get it permanently fixed so it can’t happen again.” [4]

“They’re going to need a lot of Federal help—unless you don’t need any, which would be okay,” Trump said. “We’re going to need a lot of Federal help,” Newsom answered [4].

”The Federal Government Is Standing Behind You 100 Percent”

At Los Angeles Fire Department Station 69, Trump met the firefighters. “And your fire department was so beautiful. Every one of them is in perfect physical shape. I said, ‘What do you guys do?’ They have very high standards; I could tell you,” he said, as the room laughed [3].

“The Federal Government is standing behind you 100 percent. The First Lady and I are in California to express a great love for the people of California,” Trump said [3].

“But we have to grieve for the 28 Californians who have tragically perished,” he said [3].

”Not Even 18 Days”

Trump said homeowners told him they wanted to rebuild right away. “So we’re declaring this a national emergency. By doing that, I can give you immediate—like, immediate permits. I’d ask that the local permitting process be the same,” he said [3].

“Some of the people were saying they’re going to have to—they’re going to be forced to wait 18 months for their permits, and I don’t think you’re going to do that,” Trump said. “So I’m sure you can get it down to, I would say, not even 18 days. They are ready. Mayor, they are ready to start.” [3]

“We’re ready,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass answered [3].

When Bass asked for federal help, Trump said: “Well, you’ve got it, I told you. We—you will have no permit problem. There will be zero delay. And as far as I’m concerned, you already have the permits, but——” [3]

“I just think you have to allow the people to go on their site and start the process tonight,” Trump told Bass [3].

On the tarmac later, asked if the mayor got the message on red tape, Trump said: “I hope the mayor got the message. Yes. I don’t know.” [1]

“They Literally Rake Their Forest”

“But we’re also surging Federal resources and assistance to the State, and California must adopt the commonsense policies to prevent fires, and we all know that,” Trump said [3].

He recalled talking seven or eight years earlier with people from Austria and Finland. “But they literally rake their forest,” Trump said. Of California, he said: “You have 30 years of leaves, and those leaves are dry as a bone.” [3]

“Get That Water Pouring Down Here”

“So I’m signing an Executive order to open up the pumps and valves in the north. We want to get that water pouring down here as quickly as possible to let hundreds of millions of gallons of water flow down into Southern California,” Trump said [3].

“I tell you who does like it is the fire department. When I said that, they were very happy with that,” he said [3].

By the Numbers

28: Californians killed in the fires, per Trump and his order [3][5].
18 months: the wait some homeowners feared for permits, per Trump [3].
100 percent: federal support, per Trump [3].

What Happened Next

Trump signed the water order. Executive Order 14181 says: “For weeks, residents of the Los Angeles area have watched raging fires consume their homes, belongings, beloved pets, and childhood memories. Almost immediately, firefighters were unable to fight the blaze due to dry hydrants, empty reservoirs, and inadequate water infrastructure.” [5]

“Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to provide Southern California with necessary water resources, notwithstanding actively harmful State or local policies,” the order says [5].

For Trump in North Carolina earlier that day, see HYGO News’ page on Jan. 24, 2025. For Hegseth with Trump at the F-47 announcement, see the page on March 21, 2025.