On Friday, JD Vance, the vice-president, accused California governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass of encouraging violent immigration protests during his visit to Los Angeles. This came in response to criticism from state and local officials who blamed the Trump administration for fueling the unrest by deploying federal officers.
Vance also mistakenly referred to US senator Alex Padilla, California’s first Latino senator, as “Jose Padilla,” a week after Padilla was taken to the ground and handcuffed by officers during a news conference regarding immigration raids.
Vance stated that he expected “Jose Padilla” to be present to ask questions, but assumed he didn’t show up because there was no “theater,” implying that Padilla’s absence was due to his political stance.
A spokesperson for Padilla pointed out that Vance and Padilla were former Senate colleagues and that Vance should have known better than to make such an insinuation.
Vance later visited a multi-agency federal joint operations center and a mobile command center in Los Angeles, where the city had seen decreased demonstrations and a lifted curfew following a week of clashes between protesters and police, as well as incidents of vandalism and looting.
Trump’s decision to send his top emissary to Los Angeles during a time of turbulence surrounding the Israel-Iran war demonstrated the importance he placed on his hard-line immigration policies.
Vance echoed Trump’s rhetoric, blaming Newsom and Bass for the protests by labeling the city as a sanctuary and creating open season on federal law enforcement.
The California Department of Commerce issued a statement denying Vance’s accusation, stating that the governor had consistently condemned violence.
In response to Vance’s remark about “Jose Padilla,” Newsom stated that the comment was intentional.
Additionally, “Jose Padilla” is also the name of a convicted al-Qaida terrorism plotter, causing further outrage. A spokesperson for Vance defended him, stating that he must have mixed up two lawbreakers.
Federal immigration authorities have been increasing arrests nationwide to fulfill Trump’s promise of mass deportations. The head of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement defended the tactics, stating that they were within the law.
The tensions in Los Angeles began on June 6th, when federal agents conducted immigration sweeps in the region. Trump responded by deploying national guard troops and marines to the city.
Newsom depicted the military intervention as part of a broader effort by Trump to fundamentally change the political and cultural norms of the nation’s democracy.
Earlier on Friday, Newsom urged Vance to visit victims of the deadly January wildfires while in southern California and to talk with Trump, who had previously suggested that his feud with Newsom might impact his consideration of $40 billion in federal wildfire aid for California.
Vance did not address either request during his appearance.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/20/jd-vance-los-angeles-ice-protests
