MOSCOW, July 26 — United States President Donald Trump has announced that US$100 million (RM422.44 million) that were raised by a FireAid benefit concert earlier this year to support wildfire victims in California have gone missing, Sputnik reported.
"‘FireAid’ is a total disaster. Looks like another democrat inspired scam. 100 million dollars is missing. Was supposed to go to the Los Angeles fire victims, fires that, with proper management, would never have even happened," he said on Truth Social.
Trump accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of having refused to release "billions of gallons of water" from the north of the state and the Pacific Northwest.
"I have since overruled him, and it is now released. All federal housing permits have also been approved, the city is years late. Get the fire victims their approvals to rebuild, and do it now!" he said.
In January this year, the non-profit Annenberg Foundation set up FireAid to raise money through concerts for survivors of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires that raged across parts of Los Angeles and left over 30 people dead and tens of thousands displaced.
The FireAid concert raised an estimated US$100 million, initially meant to be distributed as "direct relief," but last week, the charity told Fox News that "FireAid does not have the capability to make direct payments to individuals and that was never the plan."
The money has gone to local non-profit organisations, US media reported earlier this week. Fox News reported that at least US$6.5 million (RM27.45 million) went to the County of Los Angeles. It is unclear whether any of the funds have reached wildfire survivors.
— Bernama
