From the Daily Caller News Foundation

By Jason Cohen

Legacy media outlets have framed violent unrest that began Friday in Los Angeles, California, over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids as “protests,” despite extensive vandalism, arson and attacks on police.

Riots commenced on Friday after ICE raids in Los Angeles County, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard to the city on Saturday. Despite the violent and destructive nature of the demonstrations, several legacy media outlets opted not to describe them as “riots.”

WATCH:

Here’s the actual video of this insane quote. https://t.co/jBt8KbdaFQ pic.twitter.com/cFYh9OOuJa

— WM (@APTeacher1754) June 9, 2025

For instance, The Associated Press published a Sunday piece noting that protesters impeded access to a significant freeway and set fire to self-driving cars, but neglected to use the terms “riots” or “rioters” when describing the demonstrations.

In fact, the story even compared the Los Angeles riots to previous riots in the city in what appeared to be an attempt to downplay the violence. “The protests did not reach the size of past demonstrations that brought the National Guard to Los Angeles, including the Watts and Rodney King riots, and the 2020 protests against police violence, in which [Democratic California Gov. Gavin] Newsom requested the assistance of federal troops,” the AP wrote.

Masked rioters vandalized property, lit fires and threw rocks and fireworks at law enforcement officers in neighborhoods such as Paramount. Some also spray-painted anti-ICE slogans like “F–K ICE” and “KILL ICE” on public property.

Trump announced a deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles following two days of violent clashes, although Newsom publicly objected. Federal agents conducting ICE operations arrested over 100 illegal immigrants, including people with gang and drug trafficking allegations, prompting a wave of unrest.

ABC News published a Sunday piece with a headline that even noted the protests were “violent,” but the outlet also chose not to use the term “rioters” except in quotes by ICE acting Director Todd Lyons.

The outlet reported that there were “clashes between protesters and police” and that “multiple people were seen looting a gas station store in Paramount.”

These are merely "protests," guys. Ignore the stuff being set on fire. You do you, LA Times. 🤦 pic.twitter.com/ILhKrI89Fl

— Ryan Meilstrup (@MeilstrupR36989) June 8, 2025

The Los Angeles Times also published a Sunday headline calling the riots “protests,” despite featuring an image of a fire that rioters ignited on Saturday in Paramount.

Moreover, ABC7 Los Angeles anchor Marc Brown on Sunday appeared to downplay the riots as the outlet showed footage of a car burning downtown.

“It could turn very volatile if you move law enforcement in there the wrong way and turn what is just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn into a massive confrontation and altercation between officers and demonstrators,” Brown said.

CBS News also published a Monday piece that neglected to use the terms “riots” or “rioters,” while reporting on the anti-police violence that occurred on Sunday.

“[S]ome of those remaining threw objects at police from behind a makeshift barrier that spanned the width of a street and others hurled chunks of concrete, rocks, electric scooters and fireworks at California Highway Patrol officers and their vehicles parked on the closed southbound 101 Freeway,” the outlet wrote. “Officers ran under an overpass to take cover.”

Like the AP, CBS News also compared the anti-ICE riots to previous riots to give “some perspective on the protests,” posting a nearly identical paragraph. The outlet noted that the AP “contributed” to its article.

MxM News

Quick Hit:

President Donald Trump has ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles following violent protests targeting federal immigration agents. The unrest comes after ICE arrested dozens of illegal immigrants, prompting clashes between progressive demonstrators and law enforcement.

Key Details:

• ICE raids in L.A. sparked protests that turned violent, including attacks on federal officers and property.
• Trump authorized the National Guard deployment, calling it a necessary step to restore order.
• California officials pushed back, but federal agencies insist the operations will continue despite opposition.

Mexico seems nice this time of year.
Oh wait…
That’s Los Angeles, truly breathtaking. pic.twitter.com/UeNbaVJBQo

— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyan762) June 8, 2025

Diving Deeper:

President Donald Trump on Saturday ordered the deployment of up to 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles following a wave of violent protests triggered by immigration enforcement actions across the city. The order comes after ICE agents arrested over 40 individuals in a series of Friday raids, prompting progressive activists to flood the streets, clash with law enforcement, and attack federal officers.

By early Sunday morning, hundreds of California National Guard members, primarily from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, had arrived in Los Angeles. Their mission: protect federal facilities and personnel as violent unrest continues in neighborhoods such as Downtown L.A., Paramount, and Compton.

“We are not intimidated or apprehensive,” said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino in a post on X. “Illegal immigration operations will continue, and anyone using violence to obstruct or impede these operations will be investigated and prosecuted.”

Federal agents have faced a barrage of violence, including rocks thrown at ICE vehicles, the looting of a gas station, and a car set ablaze in Compton. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed multiple arrests, while footage from Paramount shows protesters confronting Border Patrol with smoke and flashbangs deployed to control the crowd.

Trump’s White House defended the move aggressively. “In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson echoed that sentiment, calling Trump’s response “real leadership.” He added, “The president did exactly what he needed to do.”

But in California, Democratic officials were defiant. Governor Gavin Newsom accused the Trump administration of trying to “take over” the California National Guard and claimed local authorities had the situation under control. “There is currently no unmet need,” Newsom said.

That assessment sharply contrasts with on-the-ground reports and the federal government’s description of the threat. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons blasted Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and local police for allowing chaos to unfold. “As rioters attacked federal ICE and law enforcement officers on the LA streets, Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement,” Lyons said.

Mayor Bass, for her part, condemned ICE for conducting raids in what she calls a “city of immigrants,” claiming she was not notified of the enforcement actions in advance. “We will not stand for this,” she said.

Despite the political posturing, federal agencies made it clear the immigration operations would continue.

U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated plainly: “Anyone who obstructs federal agents will face arrest and prosecution.”

With ICE agents continuing their mission to apprehend criminal illegal aliens — including gang members, drug traffickers, and repeat violent offenders — and California’s progressive leaders vowing resistance, the situation in Los Angeles may only escalate.