Three youngsters wearing breathing masks and holding a large US flag welcomed President Trump to Northern California as the state continued to reel from deadly fires Saturday.
The commander-in-chief was driving through their town of Chico on his way to the destroyed town of Paradise.
He called firefighters “unbelievably brave” and sought to sound an optimistic note during his visit.
“It’s going to work out well, but right now we want to take care of the people that are so badly hurt,” Trump said between visits with first responders fighting the Camp Fire, which broke out Nov. 8.
He’d arrived at Beale Air Force Base near Marysville via Air Force One around noon.
While the visit featured supporters greeting the president – one was seen holding a “Welcome President Trump’’ sign – there were also protests.
One demonstrator held a sign reading, “Moron, we’re in a drought.”
Several people silently held two banners saying “climate change” and “apocalypse.”
Asked during his tour if the gigantic blaze changed his mind about climate change — which he once called a “hoax’’ — the president responded, “No, no.”
But he also acknowledged that global warming “contributes a little bit’’ to wildfires.
He added, “we have incredible people doing the job.”
Trump began the day with another dig at “forest management” in California, saying at the White House, “There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor.”
He refrained from such criticism the rest of the day. At one point, he said he and California Gov. Jerry Brown are “on the same path” in terms of forest management.
Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior advisor, and Chief of Staff John Kelly accompanied Trump on the visit, which was expected to end after midnight.
The entourage joined the tour of Paradise, where almost every home was destroyed.
Brown, a Democrat, said Friday he welcomed the president’s visit.
“Now is a time to pull together for the people of California,” the governor stated.