California sheriff blasts Harris' statement on LA anti-ICE riots
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (pictured), who has announced his candidacy for California governor in 2026 and could theoretically face Harris in that showdown, accused Harris and Gavin Newsom of gaslighting. 'President Trump didn't start these riots. He's not out there lighting cars on fire, hurling projectiles at law enforcement or blocking freeways. This statement is an embarrassment and does nothing to diffuse the violent riots taking place across the city,' Bianco wrote on social media.
He said that Democratic leaders the likes of Harris, Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass 'own this.' The one-time presidential nominee then went on to express her support for the protests - which she called 'overwhelmingly peaceful.' 'In addition to the recent ICE raids in Southern California and across our nation, it is part of the Trump administration's cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division,' she wrote.
Bianco made another post quote-tweeting a video from the riots that made fools of that statement. ' Gavin Newsom , Kamala Harris, Karen Bass and the Democrats want you to think this is a 'peaceful protest,' Bianco said. 'Don't let them gaslight you. This is Gavin's Lawless California. Our state deserves better.'
Riverside is about 50 miles southwest of Los Angeles but Bianco said he is watching the situation. 'An adherence to law is an absolute requirement if we are to remain a civilized society,' he said in a statement. Donald Trump sent in 2,000 National Guard troops and placed 500 Marines on standby, while the LAPD has authorized the 'use of less lethal munitions' to regain control of the city.
The reaction and the battle for control in the city has largely gone down party lines, having sparked a war of words between Trump and Newsom, who accused him of intentionally inflaming tensions. Trump hit back with a Truth Social post on Sunday demanding both Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass apologize for the LA riots, insisting those involved are not 'peaceful protesters' as the duo had claimed, but instead 'troublemakers and insurrectionists.'
Trump issued an extraordinary directive on Sunday vowing to 'liberate Los Angeles' from illegal aliens which have 'invaded and occupied a once great American city.' A combined effort led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth , and Attorney General Pam Bondi will restore order, Trump said. He has directed his key personnel to 'to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these Migrant riots.
'Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free,' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday afternoon. Trump lamented the current state of the city, expressing concern that 'a once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. 'Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations.'
But he vowed 'these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve' as images emerge of troops on the ground in the downtown area of the city ready to defend the city from more violent demonstrations. The president congratulated the National Guard on doing a 'great job' in the city in the early hours of Sunday morning, although they hadn't arrived yet.
But Governor Newsom shared a very different perspective just hours later, revealing he has urged Trump to ' rescind the order [and] return control to California.' 'We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved,' Newsom said in his extraordinary rebuke. 'This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed.
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