Next week, the 45th president of the United States will become the 47th. Our nation wishes him well. Me too.

But as he moves back into the White House, he will find an 800-pound gorilla hiding in plain sight. For all his rhetoric about grabbing Greenland and the Panama Canal, and deporting millions of undocumented aliens, for all his plans to slash taxes, cut government spending, and bury Democrats and the non-MAGA Republicans, he faces a dire, immediate problem. And how he meets and solves it could determine the success or failure of his presidency.

I am referring, of course, to the effect of the terrible fires ravaging the nation’s second-largest city, Los Angeles.

So far, all we have heard from him is criticism of the Democrat state and local officials. Here is what he posted on his Truth Social account: “The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place. This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?”

Well, next week, Mr. President, the LA problem is yours.

Yes, there is plenty of blame to go around. Los Angeles has had a longstanding water problem. Yes, their penchant for building homes in the once-verdant canyons, lush hillsides, and the charming seashore is at fault. Yes, the LA mayor did slash some $17 million from the LAFD budget. She is catching heat for that and she should. No doubt, all officials are being toasted for their actions, or, inaction, in forest management.

So far, the only government actors worthy of praise are driving the 1,600 or so big red trucks and wearing hard hats. Praise be to the first responders of all stripes.

Watching the flames on our TV sets portrays a false sense of the fire’s size. Time magazine put it this way: “Between Tuesday, Jan. 7, and Thursday, Jan. 9, nine fires in and around Los Angeles County—including several that aren’t contained—burned some 29,000 acres (or 50-plus square miles), according to Cal Fire. That is approximately twice the size of Manhattan, or the equivalent of about 22,000 football fields or 200 golf courses." Officials estimate that 200,000 residents were evacuated. J.P. Morgan estimates the economic losses will hit $50 billion.

The lame duck President has mobilized a federal response, including picking up 100% of the tab for much of the local response costs. And FEMA is on the way. But next week he goes home to Delaware. The new/old guy takes over. And, dear friends, the LA fires become his problem.

Thousands of families watched their homes reduced to rubble, their lives upended. They are camping out with friends, relatives and strangers. They are in hotels and relying on their savings and credit cards. They are grieving over the loss of their possessions, their memories, and neighbors.

But what is next? There are real problems lurking behind the flames.

Were they insured? Will their insurance agents have the smiling face of the guys on TV — "Jake from State Farm” and his pro football pals? Will their appraiser (if they can get one that is not booked up until the end of the next century) be the good Dudley Do-Right or his evil foe, Snidely Whiplash? Or will they become a collective smiling “Dr. No?”

You can bet the insurance carriers are sweating bullets as they face billions in claims threatening their bottom line. Will it force them into bankruptcy, leaving thousands of irate customers holding the bag? What will state insurance officials do in that case?

Residents face repair/rebuilding costs, overwhelmed and/or shady contractors, a strained building supply chain, and the skyrocketing price of lumber. What about children, as schools are now rubble?

You can bet tens of thousands of non-LA folks will wonder what would happen to them if they faced a future hurricane, tornado, flood, or angry seas. Will they all join fire victims demanding that local, state and federal officials fix it — right now?

If you think Americans are mad that eggs are selling at three times their former price, wait until the irate wave of collective honked-off-ed-ness breaks over our City Halls, the Governor's Mansions, the State Houses, Congress, and the White House as the taxpayers learn they are on the hook for it all?

Will we all experience Economics 101 as demand overwhelms supply?

No official has a magic wand to make it all go away. All we can do is hope and pray our leaders will be successful. Next week, the new President will find the buck sitting at the edge of the Resolute Desk. We all wish him well.

And everyone is watching.