Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco sharply criticized former Vice President Kamala Harris after she described the anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles as largely peaceful, despite officers reporting violent clashes.
Harris attributed the unrest to federal intervention, calling the deployment of National Guard forces a “dangerous escalation” by the Trump administration. She emphasized her support for demonstrators, claiming the operation was more about stoking fear than safety.
Sheriff Bianco labeled the statement “embarrassing,” pointing out that President Trump didn’t instigate fires, block freeways, or engage in violence—actions witnessed during the protests. He argued such remarks only inflamed existing tensions rather than calming the situation.
California’s top leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, echoed Harris’s critique, accusing federal forces of provoking chaos. They’re pursuing legal action, accusing the administration of overstepping its authority.
Trump, meanwhile, defended the federal presence, asserting it helped maintain order amid unrest. He denounced the protesters as violent mobs and called for arrests.