Mel Gibson shocked viewers by comparing President Donald Trump’s arrival in California to a father coming home to discipline his children by ‘taking his belt off’.
The Hacksaw Ridge actor, whose Malibu mansion burned down in the wildfires raging across Southern California, joined Friday’s edition of Hannity on Fox News shortly after Trump had an intense sit-down with California officials.
During the heated meeting, the president repeatedly clashed with Democratic politicians, blaming them for ‘not doing enough’ to contain the devastating fires.
Gibson, 69, boldly replied to the tense exchange, which was aired live, likening Trump’s arrival to a father coming home to beat his children.
‘It’s like daddy arrived and he’s taking his belt off,’ he said.
Hannity questioned the Braveheart actor on his ‘frustrating’ experience ‘living through’ the deadly blazes that have leveled over 50,000 acres in the Golden State, according to CalFire.
‘How bad has it been?’ Hannity, 63, asked Gibson on Friday.
Mel Gibson, 69, left Fox News host Sean Hannity speechless as he approvingly compared the president’s arrival in California to a father coming home to discipline his children
President Donald Trump had a heated sit-down with California officials on Friday. The exchange, which was aired live, saw Trump blame the Democratic politicians for ‘not doing enough’ to contain the devastating fires
‘You’ve been living through these wildfires. You read about hydrants that don’t have water.
‘You read about cutting firefighters’ budgets, you read about reservoirs that are empty. I mean, it’s gotta be frustrating,’ the talk radio show host continued.
‘Well, it is,’ Gibson agreed, addressing his continued frustration with the ‘poor handling’ of the still-burning fires.
‘There are those that say, “They must’ve done it on purpose.” I won’t go that far, but if they didn’t do it on purpose, I think they certainly facilitated it.’ he added.
Five fires remain active in California as of Saturday morning, however, all but the Border 2 Fire, which began on Thursday, have reached at least 80 percent containment.
The Patriot actor extended his condolences to those affected.
‘My heart goes out to all the other residents. You meet people all the time who’ve lost their homes. And you talk and commiserate and buck each other up, and everyone’s putting on a brave face. They’re a good bunch out here,’ he said.
Gibson said he was ‘glad’ the president had arrived, hopeful his presence and handlings of the issues will ‘get results quickly.’
‘I’m glad Trump’s here at the moment,’ he continued. ‘I think he’ll get some results here quickly.’
Last week, Trump named Gibson as ‘Special Ambassador’ to Hollywood.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited with displaced California residents as they toured the Pacific Palisades neighborhood affected by recent wildfires on January 24
Last week, Trump named Gibson as ‘Special Ambassador’ to Hollywood after his million dollar Malibu mansion burned down earlier this month. Pictured: Mel Gibson tours the remains of his California home
Five fires remain active in California as of Saturday morning, however, all but the Border 2 Fire, which began on Thursday, have reached at least 80 percent containment. Pictured: A structure is burned by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles
The actor said he learned of the appointment via Trump’s social media post announcing it.
‘I got the tweet at the same time as all of you and was just as surprised,’ he said in a statement. ‘Nevertheless, I heed the call. My duty as a citizen is to give any help and insight I can.’
Gibson first discovered his Malubi home had been consumed by fire while recording an episode on Joe Rogan’s podcast on January 10 and has since opened up to Fox host Laura Ingraham about the tragedy.
‘These are things and they may or may not be replaceable but we’re still here and I just kind of look at it in a weird kind of a way like a purification,’ he told Fox News.
After learning that his house was about to be destroyed the actor said he rushed back to the Malibu mansion with his son to grab whatever they could before it all turned to ash.
He said the pair only escaped with their passports and a few other important documents while his artworks and books, some of which were from the 16th century and priceless, were destroyed in the flames.
Gibson traveled through the LA fire damage calling the ruinous scenes ‘totally crazy’ as firefighters said ‘there was no warning the reservoir was running low’ and they ‘were stunned’ when the water stopped
Gibson first discovered his Malubi home had been consumed by fire on January 10 and has since opened up to Fox host Laura Ingraham (pictured) about the tragedy
Twenty-eight people are known to have died across the Los Angeles area, however, officials have said the true death toll is not known as the fires continue to destroy neighborhoods. Pictured: Flames rise from the Sunset Fire in the hills overlooking the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles
‘It reminds me of the old cattle barons clearing people off the land. I don’t know… it just seemed a little convenient that there was no water,’ he said.
‘The wind conditions and the fact that there were people ready, willing and able to start fires. And are they commissioned to do so or are they just acting on their own volition?’
Twenty-eight people are known to have died across the Los Angeles area after several destructive wildfires fueled by dry conditions and powerful winds erupted January 7.
Nearly 17,000 structures have been destroyed and tens of thousands people have been forced from their homes.
Officials have said the true death toll is not known as the fires continue to destroy neighborhoods.
