Newsom thanks Trump for coming to California to tour fire damage in tarmac face-off

Newsom was waiting on the tarmac for Trump before the president exited Air Force One. The two shook hands, and Trump appeared to tug on Newsom's arm, a power move he has been known to pull on world leaders.

"Thank you first for being here. It means a great deal to all of us," Newsom told Trump after they met on the tarmac of LAX in Los Angeles just after 3 p.m. "We're going to need your support. We're going to need your help." 

He added that Trump was with California "during COVID. I don't forget that." 

The encounter marked the first face-to-face interaction Newsom and Trump have had since Trump was sworn in as president Monday. 

"We want to get the problem fixed," Trump said. "It's like you got hit by a bomb."

Making reference to some of the blame he had placed on Newsom and other California Democrats for not being properly prepared to handle the fires, he added, "We'll get it permanently fixed so it can't happen again."

Trump has spent the last several weeks blaming Newsom and Democratic leadership for the extent of the wildfire damage, citing fire management and water policies. 

"Gavin Newscum should resign. This is all his fault!!!" Trump charged in a social media post Jan. 8.