Los Angeles descended into chaos as protests against ICE raids turned violent. On June 7, 2025, masked agitators burned cars and hurled rocks, prompting President Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops. California’s leadership, predictably, fumbled the response.
The New York Post reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended over 100 unauthorized migrants, including gang members and drug traffickers, in Los Angeles that week.
Protests erupted the same day, with demonstrators in Paramount waving foreign flags atop scorched vehicles. The scene was less a “peaceful assembly” and more an anarchic tantrum.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with federal agents near a Home Depot, attempting to block Border Patrol operations. Sheriff’s deputies in riot gear formed defensive lines, only to be met with fireworks and graffiti-like “F–K ICE.” Actions, it seems, have consequences.
Masked individuals lobbed rocks, shattering Border Patrol truck windshields, as captured in viral footage.
Law enforcement deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd, while a dozen agitators were arrested, per US Attorney Bill Essayli. The unrest screamed of orchestrated disruption.
In Compton, protesters set up roadblocks near street fires, further tying law enforcement’s hands. Fireworks rained on deputies, a reckless escalation that endangered lives. Yet, local leaders seemed more interested in posturing than restoring order.
“The federal government is sowing chaos,” Governor Gavin Newsom claimed on X, deflecting blame with practiced ease. His accusation rings hollow when masked vandals are torching cars under his watch. Californians deserve better than this sidestepping.
President Trump, unimpressed by Newsom’s excuses, ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles on June 7.
“Incompetent Governor (Newscum) and Mayor (Bass) … unable to handle the task,” he posted on TruthSocial, cutting through the bureaucratic fog. The troops were set to arrive within 24 hours.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the mobilization, noting Camp Pendleton’s Marines were on high alert. “If violence continues, active duty Marines … will be mobilized,” he warned on X. The message was clear: lawlessness won’t be tolerated.
Trump didn’t stop at troop deployment; he proposed banning face coverings at protests. “What do these people have to hide?” he asked pointedly. Masked rioters aren’t exactly champions of transparency.
Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass faced Trump’s ire for their sluggish response. “If Governor Gavin Newscum … and Mayor Karen Bass … can’t do their jobs … the Federal Government will step in,” Trump declared. Their track record—botched fire responses, permitting delays—hardly inspires confidence.
The protests’ ferocity underscored a deeper issue: unchecked lawlessness emboldened by weak governance. When rioters feel free to burn and destroy, it’s not “free speech”—it’s a failure of leadership. Los Angeles residents are left picking up the pieces.
Trump praised the National Guard’s efforts after two days of clashes. “Great job by the National Guard in Los Angeles,” he posted on June 8, signaling approval of their swift action. Federal intervention, it seems, was the adult in the room.
The mask ban proposal sparked debate, but it’s hard to argue with the logic: anonymity fuels recklessness. Protesters hiding their faces while throwing rocks aren’t fighting for justice—they’re dodging accountability. Transparency is a small price to pay for civil discourse.
Newsom’s claim that the federal government is “sowing chaos” ignores the obvious: his state’s policies have long invited disorder. When gang members and traffickers are rounded up, and the response is riots, something’s broken. Blaming ICE won’t fix it.
