Actor Mel Gibson and podcaster Joe Rogan voiced sharp criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s handling of wildfires during Gibson’s appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast Thursday.

The two accused Newsom of neglecting wildfire prevention efforts while directing billions of taxpayer dollars toward other initiatives, such as homelessness.

Rogan initiated the conversation by highlighting California’s spending priorities.

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“We were just talking about the wildfire situation and how crazy it is that they spent $24 billion dollars last year on the homeless, and what did they spend on preventing these wildfires?” Rogan, 57, asked.

“Zero,” Gibson replied. “Zip.”

The Braveheart star criticized Newsom for failing to deliver on his 2019 pledge to prioritize forest management and wildfire prevention.

“In 2019, I think Newsom said, you know, ‘I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest’ and do all that kind of stuff,” Gibson said. “He didn’t do anything.”

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Rogan added to the criticism, pointing to reports that California firefighters are struggling with water shortages while battling the wildfires. “And on top of that, they cut the water off,” he said.

Gibson quipped, “I think all our tax dollars probably went for Gavin’s hair gel. … It’s sad. The place is just on fire.”

The discussion turned to broader critiques of California’s leadership.

Rogan condemned Newsom for presenting California as the “best” state in the nation with an “amazing economy.”

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Rogan retorted, “You’re out of your f–king mind, dude. You’ve ruined this state. Personally ruined it.”

Gibson also mentioned his son Milo, who is part of a volunteer fire brigade in Malibu.

According to Gibson, his son shared a video of raging fires near the actor’s home, underscoring the severity of the situation.

When asked by Rogan if the ongoing wildfire crisis might prompt him to leave California, as Rogan did in 2020, Gibson responded, “Yeah, maybe,” adding that he owns a place in Costa Rica.

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In 2019, Newsom pledged to overhaul California’s approach to wildfire prevention, emphasizing the need for a “fundamental” change.

However, a 2021 investigation by NPR revealed that the governor significantly overstated the state’s progress on fire prevention efforts.

“The investigation found Newsom overstated, by an astounding 690%, the number of acres treated with fuel breaks and prescribed burns,” NPR reporter Scott Rodd wrote.

Newsom claimed that 90,000 acres were treated as part of 35 priority projects, but the state’s data indicated the actual figure was 11,399 acres.

The governor’s office disputed the report, citing challenges posed by the pandemic and an unprecedented wildfire season that strained resources.

“The notion that the Newsom administration is retreating on wildfire response – in dollars or actions – is wholly inaccurate,” the governor’s office stated.

According to the state, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) allocated approximately $3.7 billion for fire protection, resource management, and fire prevention in 2021-22.

California has spent $24 billion on homelessness since 2019, according to a report by the Hoover Institution.

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Despite this spending, homelessness in the state increased by about 30,000 during that period, with over 181,000 people currently homeless.

Between 2022 and 2023 alone, an estimated 10,000 additional individuals became homeless in California.

As wildfires continue to devastate the state, critics like Gibson and Rogan are amplifying concerns over California’s management of its resources and leadership priorities, with many residents demanding greater accountability from state officials.