L.A. Mayor Blames Trump For City’s Homelessness Surge

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is blaming President Donald Trump for a recent surge in homelessness that has left thousands more people living on the streets of the so-called City of Angels.

FOX11 reported that homelessness in America’s second-largest city is expected to rise by about 3.5% when the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority releases new data Friday.

Ahead of Friday’s official release, FOX11 reported that the city estimates roughly 45,000 people are living on its streets—an 8% increase from last year—underscoring Los Angeles’ ongoing struggles with homelessness and quality-of-life issues.

The looming report also undercuts Bass’ campaign narrative that homelessness has significantly dropped under her rocky tenure. Her signature Inside Safe initiative has spent more than $300 million to move roughly 5,800 people into interim housing, mostly hotels and motels, but about 40% have since returned to the streets, The Daily Wire reported. Just one in four participants has reached permanent housing, at a cost of more than $200,000 per permanent placement.

To explain the recent surge, Bass turned to her party’s favorite political punching bag: President Trump. 

“For two years straight, we drove down homelessness by historic margins — but as expected, last year our efforts ultimately couldn’t keep up with policies and funding cuts on the federal and state levels,” Bass said, according to FOX11. “The Trump administration has driven up the cost of gas, groceries, and rent — pushing more families to the edge — and slashed critical safety net funding.”

The embattled mayor, who is facing a stronger-than-expected challenge from her left flank, also took aim at Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s handling of the state budget.

WATCH: Inside sources tell me L.A.’s homeless count is expected to rise… ending two straight years of reported declines.

The official numbers won’t be released until Friday, but multiple sources familiar with LAHSA’s latest count say homelessness is trending upward in Los… pic.twitter.com/sUYPMVcN54

— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) July 23, 2026

“And, last year’s state cut of over $70 million severely impacted our work to keep people housed and get more Angelenos off the streets,” she said in a statement. “The lack of adequate services continues to be a real problem and a contributing factor to people cycling in and out of homelessness, and these services are controlled by LA County.” 

The latest figures come as little surprise to many Los Angeles residents, including billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso, who unsuccessfully challenged Bass in the 2022 mayoral race. “I doubt anyone living in LA is surprised,” he said.  

Some residents questioned the city’s count, arguing the actual homeless population is far higher than reported.

“I don’t listen to the numbers, my eyes are better than numbers,” one man told FOX11, in a report showing littered streets, vandalized buildings, and open drug use. 

Leftist L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman will face off against Bass in the November mayoral election after troves of late-arriving ballots locked Republican Spencer Pratt out of the race.

Pratt’s viral campaign ads tapped into the reality TV star’s savvy social media background to push a message of change in a city plagued by chronic challenges. His platform captivated nationwide attention but ultimately fell flat in a deep-blue city dominated by leftists. 

His election defeat, however, has not stopped the Palisades wildfire victim from speaking out against the city’s leadership.  

“SHOCKER…the LA homeless count is going UP!” Pratt said Thursday. “I warned you guys: the more homeless people, the more money Nithya Raman and Karen Bass can launder through their corrupt NGOs. You will NEVER fix this problem by electing people who profit off it.”