Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended violent anti-ICE rioters as peaceful protesters and accused President Donald Trump of authoritarianism after he deployed National Guard troops to restore order in Los Angeles following three days of chaos that left police overwhelmed.
Pelosi released an official statement Monday calling the riots that burned cars, shut down freeways, and attacked federal officers “peaceful demonstrations” while blaming Trump for escalating violence in the Democrat-run city.
“The ongoing arrests in California of families and children obeying the law are evidence of a broader pattern of ICE’s renegade behavior across the country,” Pelosi said. “The resulting peaceful demonstrations against these actions are a manifestation of understandable fear in our communities. Now we have seen the President of the United States say that he would arrest a sitting American governor just for disagreeing with the actions of this Administration. This is the hallmark of authoritarianism on the road to tyranny – and all Americans should be shocked and appalled by the President’s blatant disregard for our Constitutional system. The Trump Administration’s escalation and provocation inflames tensions and incites violence. All Americans must be able to exercise their Constitutional right to lawfully and peacefully protest. We must shine a bright light on the unlawful tactics of the Trump Administration so that freedom of speech prevails.”
Pelosi was reportedly so “furious” that Trump deployed the National Guard to quell the violence that she started cursing, dropping an “F-bomb” over the “hypocrisy.”
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell directly contradicted Pelosi’s characterization of the riots as peaceful, describing his officers as overwhelmed by the violence.
“We are overwhelmed … There is no limit to what they are doing to our officers,” McDonnell said. “And again, as I mentioned in my statement, I can’t thank our folks enough and our partner agency police officials for going out there and taking care of the community.”
When pressed by media about whether the National Guard deployment was necessary, McDonnell said without hesitation that “this thing has gotten out of control.”
He said organized groups were behind the violence, describing rioters as cells moving from “one civil unrest situation to another. Using similar tactics frequently, and they are connected.” (READ MORE — Report: L.A. riots are taxpayer-funded!?)
The riots began Friday following ICE raids that arrested over 100 illegal immigrants, including gang members and drug traffickers. Demonstrators responded by burning cars, throwing rocks and explosives at Border Patrol vehicles, spray painting graffiti including “KILL ICE” on federal buildings, and blocking the 101 freeway in downtown Los Angeles.
Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard soldiers to quell the violence after three consecutive nights of chaos. Border czar Tom Homan said California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could face federal charges for their responses to the ICE raids, and warned that “someone is going to lose their life” during clashes between masked protesters and federal agents.
Pelosi’s statement echoed similar defenses from other California Democrats who blamed Trump rather than rioters for the violence. Former Vice President Kamala Harris refused to condemn the riots, instead claiming demonstrations “have been overwhelmingly peaceful” despite extensive video evidence of cars burning and officers under attack.
“Los Angeles is my home. And like so many Americans, I am appalled at what we are witnessing on the streets of our city,” Harris said. “Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to promote chaos. In addition to the recent ICE raids in Southern California and across our nation, it is part of the Trump Administration’s cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division. This Administration’s actions are not about public safety – they’re about stoking fear. Fear of a community demanding dignity and due process. Protest is a powerful tool – essential in the fight for justice. And as the LAPD, Mayor, and Governor have noted, demonstrations in defense of our immigrant neighbors have been overwhelmingly peaceful.”
Democrat California in a single image…pic.twitter.com/eZc44AfSrQ
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) June 9, 2025
Newsom complained about federal intervention as a government takeover, writing, “The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle. Don’t give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully.”
Newsom later escalated his rhetoric Monday night, claiming Trump deployed troops without providing basic necessities. “I was just informed Trump is deploying another 2,000 Guard troops to L.A. The first 2,000? Given no food or water. Only approx. 300 are deployed — the rest are sitting, unused, in federal buildings without orders,” Newsom posted on X. “This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego. This is Reckless. Pointless. And Disrespectful to our troops.”
The governor announced his office would sue the Trump administration over the deployment and called Trump “unhinged” while accusing him of authoritarianism. Trump and senior advisors responded with threats that Newsom could face arrest for obstruction of justice.
“It is a basic principle in this country that if you break the law, you will face a consequence for that,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Vice President JD Vance backed Trump’s measures and challenged California officials directly. “Do your job. That’s all we’re asking,” Vance wrote, sharing a clip of Newsom on MSNBC challenging border czar Tom Homan to proceed with an arrest.
Newsom fired back at Vance, posting, “Do YOUR job. We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
On Tuesday, hundreds of Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California were deployed to assist the National Guard in what represents an unprecedented federal response to the organized violence that has paralyzed Los Angeles for three consecutive days.
The riots were organized in part by taxpayer-funded groups, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, which received $34 million in government contracts in fiscal year 2023, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. CHIRLA Executive Director Angelica Salas held a press conference calling for broad demonstrations against ICE after SEIU California President David Huerta was arrested for interfering with federal officers during the initial raids.