President-elect Donald Trump has publicly criticized the delta smelt, a small fish endemic to California, during ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.
Trump accused California Governor Gavin Newsom of diverting water to protect the fish, implying it has caused fire hydrants to run dry.
Despite the smelt's historical ecological importance, its population has drastically declined, leading to its classification as functionally extinct.
The controversy reveals political motivations, with Trump targeting regulations to rally support from farmers adversely affected by water restrictions.
Experts underscore that the delta smelt's protections are unrelated to the current wildfire situation, emphasizing different underlying issues affecting water management in California.