We asked 1,000 Americans about the L.A. protests. This is how they responded.

Washington Post

a day ago

We asked 1,000 Americans about the L.A. protests. This is how they responded.
We texted 1,000 Americans
about the L.A. protests
agitators that have no lives
It will only escalate things
These people just wanted to destroy
suppressing freedom of speech
out of control
immigrants make America great
This is how they responded.
By
Washington Post staff
June 11, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. EDT
4 minutes ago
What do Americans think about the protests in Los Angeles and President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard and Marines there? The Washington Post and George Mason University's Schar School texted more than 1,000 people Tuesday — including more than 200 California residents — to ask.
The survey finds Americans are divided in their views toward L.A. protesters and Trump's decision to send the National Guard and Marines to the city. California residents are more critical of Trump's actions, as are Democrats and political independents. Americans are also mostly negative on Trump's handling of immigration, an issue that was a strength for him early in his presidency.
Participants' answers have been lightly edited for clarity and style.
Do you support or oppose Trump sending the National Guard and Marines to respond to the L.A. protests?
Support
41%
Unsure
15%
Oppose
44%
Deploying the military to crush political protest is classic authoritarian fascism, and must be opposed.
California man, 38, independent
Quell the uprising before it gets out of control.
California man, 63, Republican
It doesn't seem like the city or state asked for or wanted that support and seems to be escalating an already tenuous and difficult situation.
Maryland woman, 37, Democrat
Show more responses
Americans are roughly split on Trump sending the National Guard and Marines to respond to the protests in L.A., while a majority of Californians oppose Trump deploying the military.
Support
Unsure
Oppose
California
32%
In the "undefined" group, 32 percent of people responded with "Support."
10
In the "undefined" group, 10 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
58
In the "undefined" group, 58 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Other states
43
In the "undefined" group, 43 percent of people responded with "Support."
15
In the "undefined" group, 15 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
42
In the "undefined" group, 42 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Democrats
10
In the "undefined" group, 10 percent of people responded with "Support."
14
In the "undefined" group, 14 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
76
In the "undefined" group, 76 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Republicans
86
In the "undefined" group, 86 percent of people responded with "Support."
8
In the "undefined" group, 8 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
6
In the "undefined" group, 6 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Independents/Others
33
In the "undefined" group, 33 percent of people responded with "Support."
19
In the "undefined" group, 19 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
48
In the "undefined" group, 48 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Most Democrats oppose Trump sending the National Guard and Marines to L.A., while almost 9 in 10 Republicans support it. Independents lean against Trump's action by a 15-percentage-point margin, 48 percent to 33 percent.
Tuned-in Americans tend to oppose sending the National Guard and Marines to L.A.
Support
Unsure
Oppose
Paying a lot of attention to L.A. protests (34%)
37%
In the "undefined" group, 37 percent of people responded with "Support."
8
In the "undefined" group, 8 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
54
In the "undefined" group, 54 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Paying some attention (40%)
42
In the "undefined" group, 42 percent of people responded with "Support."
13
In the "undefined" group, 13 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
45
In the "undefined" group, 45 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Paying a little/no attention (26%)
46
In the "undefined" group, 46 percent of people responded with "Support."
26
In the "undefined" group, 26 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
29
In the "undefined" group, 29 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
The more people are paying attention to the protests in L.A., the more likely they are to oppose Trump sending in the National Guard and Marines to respond to the protests. This is partly due to Democrats following the protests more closely, although independents who are paying more attention are also more critical of Trump's decision.
Do you support or oppose the protests in Los Angeles against the federal government's immigration enforcement?
Support
39%
Unsure
21%
Oppose
40%
Americans are almost evenly split over the protests against the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts, with about 4 in 10 in support and opposition, and the remainder unsure.
Riots are not peaceful protests. Damaging property and injuring people is not included in the right to assemble/protest.
California woman, 56, independent
Los Angeles is a county of immigrants who do a lot for our community & they are our friends. Most of them are hard working, great people.
California woman, 72, Democrat
I believe everyone has a right to disagree and protest ICE, however arson and violence is not acceptable.
Florida man, 57, independent
Show more responses
Support
Unsure
Oppose
California
45%
In the "undefined" group, 45 percent of people responded with "Support."
19
In the "undefined" group, 19 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
36
In the "undefined" group, 36 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Other states
38
In the "undefined" group, 38 percent of people responded with "Support."
22
In the "undefined" group, 22 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
41
In the "undefined" group, 41 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Democrats
70
In the "undefined" group, 70 percent of people responded with "Support."
18
In the "undefined" group, 18 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
11
In the "undefined" group, 11 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Republicans
6
In the "undefined" group, 6 percent of people responded with "Support."
14
In the "undefined" group, 14 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
79
In the "undefined" group, 79 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Independents/Others
39
In the "undefined" group, 39 percent of people responded with "Support."
27
In the "undefined" group, 27 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
33
In the "undefined" group, 33 percent of people responded with "Oppose."
Californians are more likely to support the protests, along with 7 in 10 Democrats. Independents are slightly more likely to support the protests than to oppose them, while about 8 in 10 Republicans are opposed.
Do you think the L.A. protesters have been mostly peaceful or mostly violent?
Mostly peaceful
35%
Unsure
27%
Mostly violent
37%
Americans are also split over whether the protests in L.A. are mostly peaceful or mostly violent, with over one-quarter saying they are unsure.
The protests in L.A. since Friday have been largely confined to a few city blocks. There have been sporadic, violent clashes involving a few protestors that prompted the mayor to impose a curfew.
Mostly peaceful
Unsure
Mostly violent
Democrats
60%
In the "undefined" group, 60 percent of people responded with "Mostly peaceful."
23
In the "undefined" group, 23 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
16
In the "undefined" group, 16 percent of people responded with "Mostly violent."
Republicans
11
In the "undefined" group, 11 percent of people responded with "Mostly peaceful."
23
In the "undefined" group, 23 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
66
In the "undefined" group, 66 percent of people responded with "Mostly violent."
Independents/Others
35
In the "undefined" group, 35 percent of people responded with "Mostly peaceful."
32
In the "undefined" group, 32 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
33
In the "undefined" group, 33 percent of people responded with "Mostly violent."
Six in 10 Democrats say the protesters have been mostly peaceful while two-thirds of Republicans say they have been mostly violent and independents are split.
Are police using too much force dealing with L.A. protesters, not using enough force or handling it about right?
Too much
31%
About right
43%
Not enough
26%
About 3 in 10 Americans say police are using too much force dealing with L.A. protesters, about a quarter say they are not using enough force and over 4 in 10 say they are handling it 'about right.'
Too much
About right
Not enough
Democrats
55%
In the "undefined" group, 55 percent of people responded with "Too much."
35
In the "undefined" group, 35 percent of people responded with "About right."
9
In the "undefined" group, 9 percent of people responded with "Not enough."
Republicans
4
In the "undefined" group, 4 percent of people responded with "Too much."
46
In the "undefined" group, 46 percent of people responded with "About right."
50
In the "undefined" group, 50 percent of people responded with "Not enough."
Independents/Others
34
In the "undefined" group, 34 percent of people responded with "Too much."
45
In the "undefined" group, 45 percent of people responded with "About right."
21
In the "undefined" group, 21 percent of people responded with "Not enough."
Most Democrats say police are using too much force, while half of Republicans say they are not using enough force.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump is handling immigration enforcement, including deportations?
Approve
37%
Unsure
12%
Disapprove
52%
The poll finds the public rating Trump's immigration policy — including deportations — negatively by a 15 percentage-point margin, 52 percent to 37 percent, an issue that was a strong point for him a few months ago.
Approve
Unsure
Disapprove
Voted for Trump
75%
In the "undefined" group, 75 percent of people responded with "Approve."
13
In the "undefined" group, 13 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
12
In the "undefined" group, 12 percent of people responded with "Disapprove."
Voted for Harris
5
In the "undefined" group, 5 percent of people responded with "Approve."
4
In the "undefined" group, 4 percent of people responded with "Unsure."
90
In the "undefined" group, 90 percent of people responded with "Disapprove."
Three-quarters of Americans who voted for Trump approve of the president's immigration policy, while 9 in 10 of those who voted for Kamala Harris disapprove.