Neil Young Loses Home in California Fires, Then Attacks Donald Trump
Neil Young saw his Malibu home consumed in the current spate of California fires, then slammed President Donald Trump for his inactivity over the state of emergency. Elsewhere, members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool and Limp Bizkit have also been affected by the disaster.
After an unusually hot and dry summer, the current blaze season is the worst on record. At least 31 people have died, hundreds are missing, 7,000 buildings have been destroyed and 250,000 people forced to evacuate their homes. Trump angered many people over the weekend by threatening to remove federal aid rather than offer support to those affected by the wildfires.
“California is vulnerable – not because of poor forest management as DT (our so-called president) would have us think,” Young wrote on his website. “We are vulnerable because of climate change; the extreme weather events and our extended drought is part of it.”
He continued, “Our temperatures as higher than ever here in our hottest summer on record. That has not helped. DT seems to be the denier. (I’m holding back and not using the word liar just because it rhymes with denier.) It really is time for a reckoning with this unfit leader. Maybe our new Congress can help. I sure hope so.”
Watch News Coverage From the Fires
Young went on to argue that, despite ample preparation, the blazes were “something bigger than we have ever seen,” adding, “Firefighters have never seen anything like this in their lives. I have heard that said countless times in the past two days, and I have lost my home before to a California fire, now another.”
Returning to Trump and climate change, he said, “Imagine a leader who defies science, saying these solutions shouldn’t be part of his decision-making on our behalf. Imagine a leader who cares for his own, convenient opinion than he does for the people he leads. Imagine an unfit leader. Now imagine a fit one.”
Meanwhile, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst and guitarist Wes Borland both reported they’d lost their homes. Durst made a joke of the situation while Borland lamented the loss of some of his musical equipment.
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea said his house had been saved by a neighbor who “defied the evacuation orders and stayed up all through the night armed with his wits and a garden hose, and put out all the little fires at my house and my neighbors’, saving our asses.” Tool guitarist Adam Jones reported he and his family were safe, adding, “I hope our home survives. If not – it’s just ‘stuff’ and I have my best friend Korin and our two boys safe and sound.”
Trump followed his critical tweet with two more conciliatory messages, one praising firefighters and lamenting the victims of the “catastrophic” destruction, and another encouraging people to “listen to evacuation orders” if they were given.