LOS ANGELES () California state officials deny the contention by President Trump that the U.S. military was called in to help deal with water distribution in California.

“The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social late Monday evening.

The California Department of Water Resources denied the claim overnight, writing in a post on X, “The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.”

The department said it did not have any further comment.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the distribution system in California, saying water from the northern part of the state should be routed to the south. State officials have defended the water system.

“Maybe the president doesn’t know that there’s not a spigot that can be turned to solve all the water problems that he alleges exist, that don’t exist when it comes to the state water system here in California,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week.

The president, who Friday toured areas in Los Angeles devastated by the wildfires, signed an executive order directing the federal government to route more water to southern California.

White House and Defense Department officials did not respond to requests for comment on the California response or the contention of the use of the military.
 
producer Jessica Marquez contributed to this story.