During a brief visit to Los Angeles, Vice President JD Vance sparked controversy by accusing Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass of inciting recent immigration marches. He also made a “critical comment” about Senator Alex Padilla, which sparked criticism from both sides of the aisle.
At a tightly controlled press conference at a federal command center in Westwood, Vance pushed out against what he called Los Angeles’ “sanctuary policies.” He claims they make it easier for rioters to act and harder for federal immigration authorities to execute their jobs. He stated, “This is open season on federal law enforcement,” and blamed Democratic leaders for exacerbating the situation following recent ICE raids in Southern California.
Local journalists were not permitted to attend the press conference, which Fox LA’s Elex Michaelson blasted on due to concerns about the city’s transparency and accountability at this critical juncture.
Vance exacerbated the situation by referring to Senator Alex Padilla as “Jose Padilla,” a name previously associated with a terrorism investigation, which enraged many. Padilla’s spokesman, Tess Oswald, responded by pointing to their previous work together in the Senate and calling Vance’s comment reckless. Katie Porter, a former congresswoman, also described the comment as “despicable.”
Vance’s visit coincided with a period of relative peace in Los Angeles, although only for a short time. Trump dispatched troops to the city following protests. However, his fast four-hour excursion, which included a Fox News interview and a Republican fundraiser, left little opportunity for substantive engagement with the residents.
The VP’s statements may have exacerbated political differences rather than calming a city already on edge, with immigration, free press, and civil unrest at the top of the agenda.
