On Friday, Vice President JD Vance issued a stern warning to Democrat governors across the United States, stating that if they fail to prevent rioters from wreaking havoc in American cities, the Trump administration will deploy federal law enforcement to restore order. Speaking in Los Angeles, Vance made it clear that the administration would not hesitate to intervene if necessary to protect the American people and maintain public safety.
“If you let violent rioters burn great American cities to the ground, then of course we’re going to send federal law enforcement in to protect the people the president was elected to protect,” Vance declared, addressing the unrest that has plagued various cities, including Los Angeles. His comments came after a series of recent riots that have challenged local authorities’ ability to contain the violence and destruction.
Vance emphasized that the Trump administration prefers to have local leaders take charge of law enforcement, but will step in when required to maintain order and safeguard citizens. “The President has a very simple proposal to everybody and every city, every community, every town — whether big or small,” Vance said. “If you enforce your own laws, and if you protect federal law enforcement, we’re not going to send in the National Guard because it’s unnecessary.” However, the administration’s willingness to deploy federal resources remains intact if local leaders fail to act.
The Vice President’s remarks were a direct response to the turmoil in Los Angeles and other major cities where local officials have struggled to contain the chaos. Vance pointed out that while the situation in Los Angeles had “gotten a lot better,” the presence of U.S. troops remained essential. “I’ve heard from everybody that the soldiers and U.S. Marines who had been deployed to quell the violence of the Los Angeles riots were still very much a necessary part of what was happening,” he added, underscoring the continued importance of federal troops in maintaining order.
Vance was particularly critical of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accusing them of poor leadership and of enabling illegal migration, which he argued had strained local law enforcement and public services. His comments highlighted the ongoing frustration from the Trump administration regarding the handling of the riots and the broader implications of illegal immigration on state and local resources.
The remarks came just days after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize the California National Guard, a move that had sparked significant opposition from Democratic leaders. The court’s 38-page ruling affirmed that the President had acted within his constitutional rights to oversee the National Guard, despite protests from Gov. Newsom, who claimed that Trump had bypassed his office. The court ruled that while the president’s powers over the National Guard could be reviewed, the courts would defer to the president’s judgment in matters of national security and public order.
Vance took the ruling as a victory for the Trump administration, noting that the Ninth Circuit had validated the federal government’s intervention in a time of crisis. “The Ninth Circuit basically said that federalizing the National Guard was a completely legitimate and proper use of federal law enforcement,” Vance said, reinforcing the legitimacy of the President’s decision to intervene in California.
Earlier this month, President Trump had federalized 2,000 members of the California National Guard to respond to the escalating violence in the state. The move had initially been met with resistance from Democratic figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Newsom, who described the federal intervention as a “dangerous escalation.” However, the federalization of the National Guard was quickly followed by the deployment of hundreds of U.S. Marines to support the National Guard in controlling the violence. In light of continued unrest, the Pentagon confirmed that another 2,000 Guardsmen would be sent to California to help quell the mayhem.
This ongoing saga has raised tensions between federal and state authorities, with Republican leaders strongly supporting the Trump administration’s approach to law and order, while Democratic officials continue to push back against the use of federal forces in local matters. Vance’s comments are a clear signal that the Trump administration is committed to taking whatever steps necessary to ensure the safety of American cities, even if it means overriding state authority. The tension between state and federal control over law enforcement is likely to remain a hot-button issue as the situation continues to evolve, with the future of America’s cities hanging in the balance.
