> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thebarbedwire.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Abbott Sends Texas Firefighters to California, Quietly Hopes Trump Doesn’t Notice
- URL: https://www.thebarbedwire.com/abbott-sends-texas-firefighters-to-california-quietly-hopes-trump-doesnt-notice/
- Published: 2025-01-13T17:15:33.000Z
- Updated: 2025-01-13T17:15:33.000Z
- Author: Brian Gaar
- Tags: News, Texas Politics

As wildfires rage in California, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is sending firefighters and emergency vehicles to help, proving that even a staunch Trump ally can occasionally prioritize actual emergencies over posting stupid shit on social media.

On Saturday, [Abbott announced](https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-deploys-firefighting-resources-to-assist-california-wildfire-response-efforts-?ref=thebarbedwire.com) he’s deploying 135 first responders and 45 emergency vehicles to help California battle one of the worst wildfires in U.S. history, [the *Austin American-Statesman* reported](https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2025/01/13/la-wildfires-california-texas-firefighters-first-responders-aid-help-greg-abbott-emac-who-started/77666025007/?ref=thebarbedwire.com).

“Texans know all too well the devastation wildfires can cause to our communities, and our country is stronger when we come together in times of crisis,” Abbott said in a press release, notably avoiding any mention of Trump’s recent [Truth Social posts](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/12/us/trump-los-angeles-fire-newsom-bass.html?ref=thebarbedwire.com).

Trump, in his usual fact-free style, [accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-makes-misguided-accusations-california-water-management-wildfire-rcna187219?ref=thebarbedwire.com) of blocking water from Northern to Southern California (spoiler: not true) while also blaming Newsom, President Joe Biden, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the entire state’s woes. [Newsom brushed off the nonsense](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/newsom-slams-trump-disinformation-california-wildfires-rcna187301?ref=thebarbedwire.com) on NBC’s *Meet the Press*, calling it “mis- and disinformation.”

Abbott’s decision to help California is a bit surprising, honestly, for a guy who’s spent years [using the state](https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/08/04/abbott-touts-texas-taunts-california-as-cpac-conservative-gathering-kicks-off-in-dallas/?ref=thebarbedwire.com) as a [punching bag in his speeches](https://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/15/abbott-hits-california-praises-texas-in-new-tv-ad/?ref=thebarbedwire.com). But maybe even Abbott knows there’s a limit to how much you can dunk on California before it starts looking weird to sit on the sidelines while they literally burn.

Of course, Abbott isn’t exactly the good guy here. Sending firefighters doesn’t erase his frequent criticisms of California policies or [his usual full-throated support of Trump](https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/19/Abbott-endorses-trump-president/?ref=thebarbedwire.com).

But hey, sending firefighters to help extinguish actual flames is still a step up from Trump’s approach, which is to never miss an opportunity to be a dickhead.