Gavin Newsom leaves California on 'personal trip' after devastating winter storms

tidings

By Brandon Gillespie, Fox News

March 4, 2023 | 5:04 am

California Governor Gavin Newsom is being criticized for leaving California after devastating winter storms have left many in the state mired in snow and running low on resources.
MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Critics are blasting California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, for his lack of “personal travel” amid devastating winter storms that are pounding parts of the state with feet of snow.

It is unclear where Newsom traveled as his office does not comment on such matters due to what it says are security concerns, but the governor reportedly left California on Wednesday after a visit to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant in Avila Beach.

“Californians are stuck in their homes without power. More storms are on the way. And Gov. Newsom just left the state for ‘personal travel,’ said Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., on Thursday. I tweet.

In another tweet, Kiley called on Democratic incumbent Gov. Eleni Kounalakis to “immediately seek a major disaster declaration from the President,” noting that some Californians affected by the storms were without power and running out of supplies .

“May not have been the best time for Newsom to go out of state on personal travel,” San Francisco Chronicle columnist Emily Hoeven tweeted Friday, linking to an article about Californians stranded without food or a way to dig yourself out of the snow.

View the Gallery

Norma Miro, of La Puente, shovels snow from the driveway of the rental property she shared with her family for the last week in Wrightwood so they can move their vehicles Wednesday, March 1, 2023

MediaNews Group via Getty Images

A CalTrans worker closes Highway 2 due to heavy snowfall on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 in Wrightwood, CA

Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Snow drifts eroded buildings and street signs after the winter storm hit Crestline, California.

MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Many Californians are stranded in their homes without power after the storms.

MediaNews Group via Getty Images

It is unclear why Newsom chose to travel out of state amid the ongoing storm situation, and after states of emergency were declared in 13 counties across the state, including Los Angeles, on Wednesday due to the storms.

This isn’t the first time Newsom has taken on personal trips overseas. Last year, he came under fire for vacationing in Montana, despite it being one of 22 states in which he banned state-funded travel because of differences over LGBT-related laws.

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.