Vice President Vance Blames California Democrats for Los Angeles Immigration Protests

Vice President JD Vance faced intense backlash following his visit to Los Angeles amid violent protests triggered by federal immigration raids. Vance accused California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass of inciting violence by treating the city as a sanctuary, which he claimed impeded federal law enforcement efforts. He also mistakenly referred to Senator Alex Padilla as “Jose Padilla,” a name associated with a convicted terrorist, a remark widely condemned as disrespectful and racially insensitive by California officials and Assemblymember Mark González, who called Vance's visit a political stunt. Vance defended his comments as criticism of what he termed "political theater" by Democrats opposing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, critics emphasized that the unrest stemmed from the administration’s aggressive immigration raids rather than local leadership, highlighting ongoing tensions between federal and California authorities. The dispute reflects the broader national conflict over immigration policy and enforcement under President Trump’s administration.