NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.
In a bold political move that underscored the growing national unrest, Vice President JD Vance traveled to Los Angeles on Friday to personally assess the federal response to the ongoing violent riots that have gripped the city—and to publicly confront California Governor Gavin Newsom’s handling of the crisis.
Vance visited a multiagency Federal Joint Operations Center and a Federal Mobile Command Center, where he met with federal law enforcement officials and Marines deployed to maintain order. The Vice President praised their efforts to stabilize the city, which has seen days of destruction, chaos, and confrontations between protesters and authorities.
Standing before members of the press, Vance did not hold back. He condemned the local leadership in Los Angeles, accusing both Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass of inciting the violence rather than containing it. “What we’re seeing here is a tragedy—one that didn’t need to happen,” Vance stated. “Instead of calming tensions, Newsom and Bass chose to inflame them. They egged on the worst elements, and now everyday citizens are paying the price.”
Vance defended President Trump’s controversial decision to deploy federal forces, stating it became necessary after Newsom allegedly failed to respond effectively. “When local leaders refuse to uphold the law, the federal government has a duty to step in and protect the American people,” Vance asserted. “We don’t want to send in troops. But when state leaders allow their cities to burn, we have no choice.”
Vance also tied the riots to broader national concerns, including border security and immigration enforcement. “We’ve got to enforce our borders and get so many of these criminals out of our country to begin with,” he said. “Many of these violent actors shouldn’t even be here.”
Despite noting that the level of violence had begun to subside, Vance cautioned that federal agents would remain on alert. “There’s some good news—the riots have slowed—but we can’t pull back now. We need to be prepared in case this flares up again,” he warned.
The visit marks a significant escalation in the political clash between the Trump administration and California’s Democratic leadership, further fueling speculation that Vance is being positioned as a tough-on-crime voice for a potential 2028 presidential run.
As federal officers continue patrolling the streets of Los Angeles, Vance’s message was clear: The administration sees California’s crisis as not just a local breakdown, but a failure of Democratic leadership—and they’re not backing down.
PLAY:
