Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who opposed President Donald Trump’s immigration policies throughout the 2020 election, continues to stand against his approach as riots erupted in Los Angeles over the weekend, targeting immigration enforcement efforts.
In a forceful statement, Harris denounced President Trump’s decision to deploy the California National Guard to restore order in Los Angeles—a city she calls home—after Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass declined to intervene while federal agents faced violent attacks.
“Los Angeles is my home, and like so many Americans, I am deeply appalled by the chaos unfolding in our streets,” Harris declared. “The deployment of the National Guard represents a dangerous escalation designed to provoke further unrest.”
She criticized the Trump Administration’s recent immigration raids in Southern California and nationwide, calling them part of a “cruel, calculated agenda” intended to spread fear and division. Despite reports of extensive damage—including the destruction of ICE and Border Patrol vehicles, injuries to federal personnel, and widespread looting and arson in downtown L.A.—Harris insisted the protests remained “mostly peaceful.”
“These actions are not about ensuring public safety; they are about stoking fear,” she asserted, challenging the administration’s justification.
The announcement followed President Trump’s federalization of roughly 2,000 California National Guard troops. Additionally, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth placed 500 U.S. Marines stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton on standby, signaling an intensified federal response to the unrest.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial hopeful for 2026 who could challenge Kamala Harris, fiercely criticized her for blaming President Trump for the chaos—and took aim at Governor Gavin Newsom as well.
“Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Karen Bass, and the Democrats want you to believe these are ‘peaceful protests,’” Bianco tweeted Sunday, sharing a video showing a burning vehicle and a mob overtaking an L.A. street. “Don’t be fooled by their gaslighting. This is Gavin’s Lawless California. Our state deserves better.”
Bianco also shared a graphic featuring Harris’s statement, responding sharply: “President Trump didn’t start these riots. He’s not the one setting cars ablaze, throwing objects at law enforcement, or blocking freeways. This statement is an embarrassment and only fuels the violence tearing through our city.”
He didn’t hold back in assigning blame, declaring, “The Democrats and their so-called ‘leaders’ own this crisis.”
Though Riverside lies about 50 miles south of Los Angeles, Sheriff Bianco said he’s closely monitoring the unrest.
“Respect for the rule of law is essential to maintaining a civilized society,” Bianco stated. “While the Riverside Sheriff’s Office will protect every individual’s constitutional right to protest, we will enforce a zero-tolerance policy against any criminal acts tied to these demonstrations. Anyone breaking the law, inciting violence, or obstructing law enforcement will be arrested, jailed, and prosecuted.”
Meanwhile, President Trump weighed in on the attacks against ICE agents with a post on his Truth Social platform, labeling the rioters as “Paid Insurrectionists!” He also targeted Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass, insisting they “should apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job they have done.”