California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) said in an interview that it would be a “great mistake” to put conditions on federal disaster aid for victims of the ravaging wildfires.

“I respectfully submit that that will be a great mistake to put any conditions on aid to a state that’s suffering from a natural disaster. It’s a time-honored tradition for the president and the federal administration to provide aid when states are in need,” Bonta said during his Thursday appearance on NewsNation’s show “The Hill.” 

Bonta added that the president has a responsibility to make sure both Democrat and Republican-leaning states receive equal treatment.

“The president ran for president to be the president of the United States of America, not just the red states of America. Doesn’t matter what party preference the state has,” he said. “When President Biden was the president, he provided disaster relief immediately to Florida, to Texas when they faced devastating hurricanes – that was very appropriate, the right thing to do. So I hope that tradition is continued forward.” 

Some Republican lawmakers in Washington, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have suggested in recent days that the disaster assistance intended for the Golden State should come with strings attached, drawing pushback from not just Democrats, but from members of their party who represent California in Congress. 

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) said on Jan. 14 that Californians “are entitled to receive federal disaster assistance in the same manner as all Americans,” adding that “some federal policy changes may be needed to expedite rebuilding as well as improve future wildfire prevention. Those kind of policies are not conditions.”

Trump threatened to withhold aid to California if the state’s officials don’t alter the way they manage water, telling Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday that he does not think “we should give California anything until they let the water run down.” 

The president is set to travel to California on Friday. The same day, he will be in North Carolina to visit the western part of the state that was heavily damaged during Hurricane Helene. 

Bonta said he was “grateful” for Trump’s planned trip to California and he hopes the president will provide emergency aid without any conditions. 

“I think when the president comes he’ll see the devastation, the destruction, the damage, the human tragedy,” Bonta said on Thursday. “He’ll see that these are Americans in need of support from their government and from their president.” 

The wildfires in the Los Angeles area have killed at least 28 people. The region’s biggest blazes, the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, are still active while the Hughes Fire, the more recent outbreak, has forced evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents.  

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