Senator Elizabeth Warren said that if her social media followers make donations to support communities devasaid by fires in Los Angeles, "100%" of the donations would go to the local fire department and United Way. Warren shared this statement with a link to donate through ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform, in a January 12 post on X.

"To help support the communities around L.A. being devastated by wildfires, can you split a donation between the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles," said Warren, Senator (D-Massachusetts). "100% of your donation will go directly to these organizations."

According to MSN, Warren shared a link for her social media followers to donate through ActBlue, which retains 3.95% of all transactions. "Elizabeth Warren is now using the LA wildfires to solicit donations directly to Act Blue. The media is nowhere to be found on this," Stephen Miller said in a post on X. Warren’s post was later flagged by the X feature "Community Notes," which clarified: "This is not a link to charity. It is a link to a Democrat fundraising platform that takes 3.95% of all transactions. You can donate directly to these charities."

Senator Elizabeth Warren | Gage Skidmore (Flickr)

The New York Post reported that California Governor Gavin Newsom directed donors to his super PAC, Campaign for Democracy, which also uses the ActBlue fundraising platform. While the site linked to californiafirefacts.com promises donations will aid the California Fire Foundation and wildfire victims, donors' contact information is used for Newsom’s PAC. Newsom’s spokesperson said none of the funds go to his PAC and that $450,000 had been raised for the Fire Foundation through small contributions.

According to Cal Fire, the Palisades and Eaton Fires began on January 7 and are currently 61% and 87% contained, respectively. As of January 20, the Palisades Fire has burned 23,713 acres, destroyed 6,207 structures, damaged 821 structures and resulted in 11 deaths. The Eaton Fire has burned 14,021 acres, destroyed 9,418 structures, damaged 1,069 structures and resulted in 17 deaths. Santa Ana winds and drought conditions combined with heavy brush resulting from two previous years of heavy rains worsened the fires. The causes of the fires are currently under investigation.

Elizabeth Warren has been serving as a U.S. Senator since 2013 for Massachusetts.