Dementia Donnie's dementia filled comments about diverting water from the Pacific NW
Key issues and events surrounding Trump and PNW water:
Recurring false claims: Since 2024, Trump has repeatedly claimed that PNW water could be diverted to California to solve droughts or fight fires. For instance, following the Los Angeles fires in August 2025, he once again asserted that California's water issues could have been prevented if PNW water had been "opened".
No existing infrastructure: Water experts consistently state that there is no pipeline, canal, or other infrastructure to move water from the PNW to Southern California. Water flow is governed by gravity and the region's geography, with the largest systems in the PNW (the Columbia and Snake rivers) flowing west to the Pacific Ocean.
Geographical and legal barriers: Environmental law experts and water managers dismiss the idea as "mind-bogglingly stupid" due to significant legal, political, and engineering challenges. A proposal would also face fierce opposition from PNW residents and tribal nations.
Reversal of the Columbia River agreement: In June 2025, Trump issued a presidential memorandum revoking the "Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement," a deal made under the Biden administration. This agreement aimed to restore salmon populations and provide over $1 billion in funding to Pacific Northwest tribes for energy and fish recovery. The Trump memo characterized the deal as "Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Generate Power for the Columbia River Basin"