On June 20, 2025, United States Vice President JD Vance stated that the thousands of troops stationed in Los Angeles remain essential, even after a week of reduced unrest in the city, which has faced protests over immigration raids. President Donald Trump deployed approximately 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to safeguard federal property and personnel following demonstrations.
Speaking to reporters in Los Angeles, Vance expressed concerns about potential renewed violence, emphasizing the need for continued military presence. This statement followed a court ruling on June 19, 2025, allowing Trump to retain control over the California National Guard, overriding Governor Gavin Newsom’s authority. California leaders, including Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have condemned Trump’s military deployment, arguing it intensified protests that local police could have managed.
The protests, primarily peaceful and confined to a small city area, saw occasional violence and vandalism. Vance defended the federal response, asserting that protecting citizens from rioters justifies federal intervention and warning that Trump would redeploy troops if necessary. He also accused Newsom and Bass of fueling the protests, a claim both officials rejected. Bass, addressing reporters on June 20, 2025, denied encouraging violence and clarified that local forces handled crowd control, not federal troops, who focused on protecting a federal building.
She noted that disruptions affected only a small portion of the 500-square-mile city and accused Vance of stoking division. The protests stem from public anger over immigration raids tied to Trump’s deportation policies, with similar demonstrations occurring in cities like San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and San Antonio.
Tensions escalated when California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed during a June 2025 news conference while questioning Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Vance incorrectly referred to Padilla as “Jose Padilla” when commenting on his absence, prompting Bass to condemn the misnaming as disrespectful. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Padilla’s treatment as authoritarian, while the White House falsely claimed Padilla had lunged at Noem, contradicting video evidence. The ongoing dispute highlights deep divisions between federal and local authorities over protest management and immigration enforcement.
