As Los Angeles battles raging wildfires, the California Senate and Assembly convened to determine how they will “safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration.” RedState reports, California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D) appeared thrown for a loop when reporter Ashley Zavala, capitol correspondent for KCRA-TV, questioned him about it.

According to RedState:

“Is now the right time to have a special legislative session on allocating money to fight Trump in a way that you could already do without a special legislative session?” Zavala wondered.

“Um, so I’m, ya know, I’m here t-to address this, this, uh, you know, these, these, these, these… wildfires. This is a historic wildfire,” a flummoxed Rivas replied. “This is a historic event, these wildfires, as I mention, are gonna be quite possibly some of the worst wildfires and disasters in the state and national history.”

Zavala pressed further as Rivas tried deflecting, saying “But minutes ago, your House, while this wildfire is happening and while people are trying to understand what’s going on, and are worried about disaster relief, worried about the ability to get homeowners insurance, your chamber gaveled in a special legislative session to prepare for Donald Trump.”

A press release ahead of the session stated, “Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation convening a special session of the California Legislature to safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration,” a press release at the time stated. “The special session will focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families.”

Critics were quick to call out the Assembly Democrats for focusing on “fighting Trump” rather than helping those battling the raging wildfires that have burned homes and businesses to the ground as thousands of residents were forced to flee and led to at least 10 lives being lost.

RedState writer Rusty Weiss suggested the real issues the Democrats could be focusing on right now rather than President-elect Donald Trump. “Perhaps they should hold a legislative session to figure out why fire hydrants went dry during the Palisade wildfires,” Weiss writes. “Why the LAFD’s budget was reduced by over $17 million. Why the mayor of Los Angeles was in Ghana as the fires raged. Why the emergency alert system caused chaos.”