In a powerful appearance on CNN, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass delivered a pointed update on the unrest in her city, taking direct aim at former President Donald Trump. The riots, which have continued since June 6, were the focus of a segment that revealed both the underlying tension and the mayor’s strong criticism of federal actions.
Mayor Bass did not hold back, arguing that Trump’s immigration raids played a key role in sparking the recent violence. “If you rewind to Friday, before the raids, everything was peaceful,” she said. “The disruption we saw last night wouldn’t have happened if ICE hadn’t conducted those operations. People in Los Angeles have a rapid response network—when they see ICE, they show up to protest. This creates chaos that didn’t need to happen.”
She emphasized that the city had been calm before the raids, but uncertainty around when and where ICE might strike next has led to instability. “It’s a completely unnecessary recipe for pandemonium,” she said.
Speaking more broadly, Mayor Bass laid blame on the Trump administration for deliberately escalating tensions. “We were told the focus would be on violent criminals,” she said. “But this wasn’t a drug den—it was a Home Depot. Why were there raids at all?”
She accused the administration of using immigration enforcement as a tool to provoke public outcry, only to then justify a military response. “Why did the president feel the need to override the governor and federalize the National Guard?” she asked. “The night before, there was a protest that got slightly unruly—about 100 people were involved. Twenty-seven arrests were made. That doesn’t warrant such a drastic response.”
Despite her criticism of federal actions, Bass made it clear that violence and destruction would not be tolerated. She vowed that those who damaged property or assaulted police officers would be held accountable. “The police are reviewing footage and working to identify those who committed crimes,” she confirmed.
Mayor Bass's remarks drew a sharp line between peaceful protest and federal overreach, reinforcing her position that Trump’s actions have only deepened unrest in Los Angeles.
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