Democrat Senator Criticizes Party Over Los Angeles Riots

Sen. John Fetterman on Monday condemned the Los Angeles riots that have broken out in reaction to the deportation of illegal aliens. 

“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that,” Fetterman, D-Pa., wrote in a post on X.

“This is anarchy and true chaos,” the Pennsylvania senator continued, including a photo below his statement that showed raging fires and a man standing on top of a car waving a Mexican flag in L.A. 

“My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement,” Fetterman said. 

Fetterman’s post is a notable break from what elected Democrats in California have said because he unequivocally condemned the riots without simultaneously criticizing President Donald Trump’s actions in response. The president has already sent 2,000 National Guard troops to L.A. to quell the violence, and another 2,000 guardsmen and 700 Marines have been authorized by the Pentagon. 

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused the Trump administration of laying a trap for those protesting the enforcement of American immigration law. 

“L.A. has a proud history of peaceful protest for immigrants rights. We must continue that legacy—don’t fall into the Trump administration’s trap,” Bass wrote on X. 

“Protest peacefully. Looting and vandalism will not be tolerated,” the mayor continued. Bass has utilized the Los Angeles Police Department to respond to the outbreak in violence.

Bass had released a statement on Friday that said she was “deeply angered” by “reports of federal immigration enforcement actions in multiple locations in Los Angeles.”

The mayor noted that her office was “in close coordination with immigrant rights community organizations,” and that “we will not stand for this.” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller replied to the post of the statement with the simple phrase, “You have no say in this at all. Federal law is supreme, and federal law will be enforced.”

Likewise, California Gov Gavin Newsom has faulted the Trump administration for deploying the National Guard to restore law and order, calling the move “inflammatory.” 

“It’s a blatant abuse of power. We will sue to stop this. The courts and Congress must act. Checks and balances are crumbling,” the governor said.

Newsom also released a statement on Monday that accused Trump of creating a “mess.”

As for Fetterman, this isn’t the first time the Pennsylvania senator has broken ranks from the Democrat party line. He has also faced protesters and party anger over his support for the state of Israel in its war against the Hamas terrorists who attacked the Jewish state on Oct. 7, 2023.

The Pennsylvania lawmaker also appears to be alarmed at his party’s failure to attract middle-class voters. On Monday evening, he was spotted dining with Make America Great Again populist activist Steve Bannon at the pro-Trump D.C. restaurant Butterworth’s.

For their part, senior Trump administration officials have refused to back down in the face of otherwise all-but-unanimous criticism of their handling of the L.A. riots. 

Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino wrote on X on Saturday, “The right to assemble and protest does not include a license to attack law enforcement officers, or to impede and obstruct our lawful immigration operations.” 

“We are thoroughly reviewing the evidence from yesterday’s incident in Los Angeles, and we are working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Bongino continued, adding:

The days of chaos ruling the streets are over. Either obey the law, or go to jail. There’s no third option.

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