Spin Cycle: The ‘Mostly Peaceful’ Riots (Round Two) Leave Los Angeles In Flames

Democrats and media talking heads spent Sunday morning attempting to downplay the violence and vandalism on display in Los Angeles, forcing Republican guests to defend President Donald Trump’s decision to call in the National Guard.

For those who don’t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week’s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.

After Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents attempted to carry out several raids across the greater Los Angeles area — and were met with two days of protests and violence — President Trump invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807 and activated the National Guard to help get the situation under control. Even as the National Guardsmen arrived in Los Angeles, Democrats on the Sunday talk shows tried to paint the ongoing riots as “mostly peaceful” and Trump’s actions as excessive.

On ABC News’ “This Week,” it was noted that the National Guard typically would deploy at the direction of the governor of a particular state — and that Trump’s move to deploy them over the objections of Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) was something that had only happened a handful of times in the past.

“Typically, the federal government sends in the National Guard only at the governor’s request. Trump is bypassing Newsom, marking the first time a president has bypassed a state governor since the Civil Rights Movement.” @TrevorLAult has the latest: https://t.co/8cI4TBUlYx pic.twitter.com/ANyXHzqsoW

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 8, 2025

House Speaker Mike Johnson told host Jonathan Karl that he wasn’t at all worried that Trump had gotten out over his skis in this particular situation, however.

“I think the president did exactly what he needed to do … Gavin Newsom has shown an inability or unwillingness to do what is necessary there, so the president stepped in,” he explained.

“I think the president did exactly what he needed to do … Gavin Newsom has shown an inability or unwillingness to do what is necessary there, so the president stepped in,” Speaker Johnson tells @JonKarl after Trump deploys California National Guard. https://t.co/XS5Rl4O1po pic.twitter.com/JtuK9TyuHW

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 8, 2025

On CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” anchor Margaret Brennan pressed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on President Trump’s order saying that protesters would not be permitted to wear masks, noting that many ICE agents continued to cover their faces. Noem was not clear on how Trump’s order banning masks for protesters might be enforced, but she pointed out that the agents wearing masks were doing so because their lives and families had already been threatened.

“[It’s] for the safety of those individuals or the work that they’re doing, as far as protecting their identity.”

After President Trump said that protesters in Los Angeles will not be allowed to wear masks, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says she “won’t get more specific” on how that will be enforced. But she defends law enforcement officers continuing to wear masks, saying it’s… pic.twitter.com/ArkyBCa9V7

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) June 8, 2025

“We are not going to let a repeat of 2020 happen,” Noem added, referencing the violent riots — dubbed “mostly peaceful” by media outlets — that followed the death of George Floyd.

“We are not going to let a repeat of 2020 happen,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says, referring to violent protests that happened that year, as President Trump says he is going to mobilize the National Guard for ongoing protests in Los Angeles.

She says California… pic.twitter.com/Sv7rCbn5II

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) June 8, 2025

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) said his main concern was that the riots in Los Angeles were just “the tip of the iceberg,” adding, “What I’m worried about is, this thing’s going to escalate,” he says. “It’s not going to be just L.A., it will be cities all over the country as we continue to deport people.”

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) says the deportations that have led to protests in Los Angeles are “the tip of the iceberg,” as the number of deportations nationwide is “about to go way up.”

“What I’m worried about is, this thing’s going to escalate,” he says. “It’s not going to be… pic.twitter.com/dVUNTFdS0f

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) June 8, 2025

On NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Sen. Cory Booker actually used the word “peaceful” to describe demonstrations that involved protesters hurling concrete and rocks at ICE agents and their vehicles.

“The reality is we see peaceful protests launching in Los Angeles. And again, any violence against police officers should not be accepted. Local authorities can handle that. But remember, a lot of these peaceful protests are being generated because the president of the United States is sowing chaos and confusion by arresting people who are showing up for their immigration hearings, who are trying to abide by the law,” he said.

????CORY BOOKER CALLS RIOTS PEACEFUL PROTESTS.pic.twitter.com/Zkzh2eXuqz

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 8, 2025

On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) joined anchor Dana Bash to discuss the situation. And while he was supportive of Trump’s decision to call in the National Guard, he drew the line there — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s promise to have active duty Marines on high alert, he argued, was not necessary.

“The National Guard ought to take care of the situation,” he said.

.@RonJohnsonWI rejects Secretary Hegseth’s suggestion to deploy active-duty Marines to California: “The National Guard ought to take care of the situation.” pic.twitter.com/BuX6Q8Ydyi

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) June 8, 2025

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) offered his full-throated support to Trump, saying, “I don’t know why a governor would want to try to protect illegal activity inside a state. And the president has made it very clear, if the governor or the mayor of a city isn’t willing to protect the citizens of his state or the city, then the president will.”

.@MarkwayneMullin on Trump bypassing California Governor Gavin Newsom on deploying the National Guard: “I don’t know why a governor would want to try to protect illegal activity inside a state. And the president has made it very clear, if the governor or the mayor of a city isn’t… pic.twitter.com/M9qFgYcG82

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) June 8, 2025

Bash also spoke with Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-CA), who argued that California did not need any help in managing the protests. She claimed that they were peaceful, and that Trump had only called out the National Guard in order to create the illusion of violent confrontation.

“We agree that, if you’re being violent, you should be arrested, you should be prosecuted. There is no disagreement on that… But this is not what’s happening. We are having an administration that’s targeting peaceful protests, people that are there to protest. The president is sending in the National Guard because he doesn’t like the scenes. He doesn’t like the scenes of people peacefully protesting,” she insisted.

BASH: “What is your message to people who are getting violent?”

BARRAGAN: “It’s, don’t get violent… We agree that, if you’re being violent, you should be arrested, you should be prosecuted. There is no disagreement on that… But this is not what’s happening. We are having an… pic.twitter.com/qNmYApIamQ

— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) June 8, 2025