MSNBC host Joy Reid stirred controversy on Monday with claims that the “billionaire right” aims to drive non-White people out of California and turn the state into an “apartheid” society.

Reid made the comments during her show, The Reid Out, while addressing the ongoing wildfires that have devastated the state, leaving at least 24 dead and burning more than 40,000 acres.

The wildfires, including the Eaton Fire, have caused significant destruction across California, forcing thousands to flee communities such as Altadena.

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A tour of the evacuation area by Fox News Digital revealed widespread damage, with homes, businesses, and vehicles destroyed.

Amid this crisis, Reid accused “vulture capitalists” of exploiting middle-class communities by buying properties “for pennies on the dollar.”

Reid alleged that these capitalists intend to reshape California according to “ugly right-wing policies,” ultimately transforming it into a state controlled by conservative electoral interests.

Reid asserted that this supposed effort includes driving out Black, Brown, and Asian residents or relegating them to systemic oppression.

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“They can drive out the Brown people and the Black and Asian people, or just sink them into the same apartheid they’ve created in Texas, and they will control enough electoral votes if they control California to never have to worry about another presidential election,” Reid said.

She linked these claims to Republican criticism of California’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

One example she cited was the decision to reduce the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget by $17.6 million while funding other programs, such as syringe exchanges for the homeless.

According to Reid, Republicans use such criticisms to mask an alleged agenda to turn California into a conservative stronghold.

Reid warned that Republicans aim to exploit California’s resources, suggesting that they would prioritize drilling and fracking while dismantling forests to benefit developers.

“They can drill and frack California until the fires this past week pale in comparison. They can rip out all the forests and hand over the land to developers, Florida-style,” Reid said.

She further alleged that the right’s strategy involves leveraging “lies and deceit” to take control of California’s cultural and political influence, stating,

“The billionaire right knows that they cannot take California – home to Hollywood, San Francisco, and Kendrick Lamar – by culture. So they’re looking to try to take it with lies and deceit and by fire.”

Reid also revisited her criticisms of President-elect Donald Trump, claiming that his return to power after the 2024 election was “the most violent in U.S. history.”

She argued that the transfer of power to Trump was illegitimate and warned, “You can’t peacefully transfer power to an insurrectionist simply because it took them an extra four years to finish the job.”

Reid’s remarks have sparked significant backlash, with critics accusing her of spreading divisive rhetoric and unfounded conspiracy theories.

Her comments also come amid heightened tensions surrounding California’s wildfire response and ongoing debates about state policies.

As California continues to grapple with the devastation caused by the wildfires, the political discourse surrounding the state’s future remains a contentious issue.

Reid’s assertions have added another layer to the ongoing debates about the role of politics in addressing environmental and social challenges.

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