On Sunday, CNN meteorologist Tom Sater offered a lengthy and brutal fact check of President Donald Trump‘s claim that forest mismanagement was to blame for the deadly, destructive fires in California.

While in Paris over the weekend and with reports of devastation and lost lives still being reported, Trump said that there is “no reason” for the “costly” forest fire.

He then threatened to yank federal monies.

“There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments,” Trump wrote.

There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018

In response, speaking on CNN on Sunday, Sater said that was not the case — at all.

“This has nothing to do with forest management. We’re not looking at dense forest here, especially down in Malibu,” the weather expert began.

He then said this about Trump’s threat to yank funds: “To say remedy now or we’ll take your funds, he’s already taken some of their funds.”

Referring to a sentiment he read in a non-Trump tweet rebutting Trump’s claims, he added: “It’s like taking funds from the National Hurricane Center until you stop all these hurricanes. I mean, it’s the same notion.”

The meteorologist then noted the stakes involved and lives being destroyed.

“More importantly, people died in their homes,” Sater stressed before explaining what was really going on with the fires complete with weather graphics. “They found bodies outside the homes, in their vehicles trying to flee. Outside their vehicles just trying to run away. We got a problem here.”

Watch above, via CNN

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