Jonathan Rinderknecht, the 29-year-old man recently charged with igniting the fire that grew into the deadly Palisades Fire, frequently used social media to post about climate change concerns and share anti-Trump political views, according to court documents and public posts.
Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday in Florida and charged with destruction of property by means of fire for allegedly sparking the blaze that authorities say ultimately claimed 12 lives and caused widespread devastation in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli stated, “The complaint alleges that a single person’s recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen, resulting in death and widespread destruction.” A federal judge ordered Rinderknecht to remain jailed on Thursday, citing prosecutors’ claims that he exhibits traits of an arsonist.
Rinderknecht’s social media activity has come under scrutiny, revealing a strong focus on global warming and climate change.
Posts shared by him included articles titled “Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration,” which featured an image of a burning California hillside, and “The Great Climate Migration has begun.”
He also shared an article titled, “Senator Kamala Harris Says Meat Is Destroying the Planet,” and another suggesting that “Summers could become ‘too hot for humans.'”
His political leanings were also evident in posts expressing anti-Trump sentiments. Rinderknecht shared images of Trump supporters upset after the 2020 election and criticized the former President’s handling of the economy during COVID-19.
He also posted a link to contribute to former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election campaign.
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Federal authorities detailed Rinderknecht’s movements around the time of the fire. Working as an Uber driver in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve 2024 and New Year’s Day 2025, two passengers reportedly noted that Rinderknecht “appeared agitated and angry” after dropping someone off in Pacific Palisades.
The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht sparked an initial fire, known as the Lachman Fire, after parking near the Skull Rock trailhead. Though that fire was put out on January 2nd, heavy winds are believed to have reignited underground embers, leading to the devastating Palisades Fire.
Adding a bizarre detail to the charges, after allegedly sparking the fire and calling 911, Rinderknecht reportedly consulted an AI chatbot. He asked ChatGPT, “Are you at fault if a fire is lift [sic] because of your cigarettes?” to which the complaint says the AI responded, “Yes,” and provided an explanation.
The Palisades Fire, which raged through Mandeville Canyon and parts of Sunset Boulevard, resulted in the tragic loss of life and left many residents displaced. While Rinderknecht didn’t post many personal pictures, one image from 2014 showed him wearing dramatic skull face paint and fake blood.
“While we cannot bring back what victims lost, we hope this criminal case brings some measure of justice to those affected by this horrific tragedy,” Essayli concluded.
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