Key points
- Roughly 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines have been sent to LA
- California officials have heavily criticised Trump over his use of the military
- Trump will deploy soldiers again if needed: Vance
ISLAMABAD: United States (US) Vice President JD Vance said Friday that the thousands of troops deployed to Los Angeles this month were still needed despite a week of relative calm in the protest-hit city.
According to AFP, President Donald Trump has sent roughly 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines, purportedly to protect federal property and personnel, after demonstrations over immigration raids.
VP Vance thanks Marines and law enforcement officers in LA for protecting against lawless rioters🔥
“I think it’s disgraceful that we’ve ever gotten to this place in this country…Thank you to all of you for doing what is necessary to enforce the laws of the American people.” pic.twitter.com/anlcoeLi0b
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) June 20, 2025
“Unfortunately, the soldiers and Marines are still very much a necessary part of what’s going on here because they’re worried that it’s going to flare back up,” Vance told reporters in Los Angeles.
Court ruling
He was speaking the day after an appeals court ruled that Trump could continue to control the California National Guard, which would normally fall under Governor Gavin Newsom’s authority.
California officials have heavily criticised Trump over his use of the military, saying it escalated protests that local law enforcement could have handled.
The demonstrations were largely peaceful and mostly contained to a small part of Los Angeles, the second-largest US city, though there were instances of violence and vandalism.
.@VP: “If you enforce your own laws … we’re not going to send in the National Guard because it’s unnecessary — but if you let violent rioters burn great American cities to the ground, then of course we’re going to send federal law enforcement in to protect the people.” pic.twitter.com/GurYfTr0Yb
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 20, 2025
“If you let violent rioters burn Great American Cities to the ground, then, of course, we’re going to send federal law enforcement in to protect the people the president was elected to protect,” Vance said.
Soldiers’ deployment
He added that Trump would deploy soldiers again if needed.
“We don’t want to send these great Marines to cities like Los Angeles. We only do it if we have to protect federal property and to protect the lives of our great law enforcement,” he said.
The Republican further accused Newsom — a possible contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 — and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of encouraging protesters.
“Manufacturing a crisis”
Both have condemned rioting and violence towards law enforcement, while accusing the Trump administration of manufacturing a crisis in the city.
.@VP in Los Angeles: “You had people who were doing the simple job of enforcing the law and they had rioters — egged on by the governor and the mayor — making it harder for them to do their job. That is disgraceful and it’s why the President has responded so forecefully.” pic.twitter.com/uGZFLBJOEy
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 20, 2025
“You had people who were doing the simple job of enforcing the law, and they had rioters egged on by the governor and the mayor making it harder for them to do their job,” Vance said, the AFP reported.
“That is disgraceful, and it is why the president has responded so forcefully.”
“Categorically false”
According to The Japan Times, Newsom is tipped to mount a presidential bid in 2028, and could conceivably face off against Vance.
Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Newsom, called Vance’s claim “categorically false.” “The Governor has consistently condemned violence and has made his stance clear,” she said. She cited posts Newsom made on X, including one on June 9 when he said, “Foolish agitators who take advantage of Trump’s chaos will be held accountable.”
Hey @JDVance — nice of you to finally make it out to California.
Since you’re so eager to talk about me, how about saying it to my face?
Let’s debate. Time and place?
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 20, 2025
Newsom has said Trump’s deployment of troops exacerbated the protests, increased tensions and is unconstitutional.
Bass, the Los Angeles mayor, speaking at a news conference, said Vance had spewed “lies and nonsense” and called the deployment of troops a “provocation” that has spread “terror and fear throughout our city.”
According to AFP, many in Los Angeles are angry about immigration raids carried out as part of Trump’s ambition to deport vast numbers of undocumented migrants around the country.
Outrage at the use of masked, armed immigration agents has also sparked protests in other cities, including San Francisco, New York, Chicago and San Antonio, Texas.
