Vice President JD Vance stated on Friday that President Trump would not hesitate to deploy the National Guard “again.” This comes after an appeals court affirmed that the commander could keep control over the thousands of troops stationed in Los Angeles due to the anti-ICE riots.
“To enforce our laws and protect federal law enforcement, we won’t send the National Guard unless absolutely necessary,” Vance shared outside a federal building in Los Angeles.
However, he noted, “If violent riots threaten to destroy our great cities, we will certainly deploy federal law enforcement to safeguard our citizens.”
Vance pointed out that conditions have improved significantly since Trump dispatched active service members to Los Angeles but cautioned that local officials remain anxious about potential escalations in violence.
Los Angeles, a focal point for the anti-ICE protests, has faced unrest in response to Trump’s stringent measures on illegal immigration.
During his visit, Vance toured a joint operations center and the FBI Mobile Command Center that are currently operational for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE).
Leaders from 14 agencies explained ongoing efforts, involving ICE, the Department of Defense, and local law enforcement, among others.
Vance also met with around 200 active-duty Marines who are present to protect federal properties and officials in the city.
In addition to them, another 500 Marines and 2,000 security guards are set to reinforce the existing 2,000 National Guard troops already deployed in Los Angeles.
While U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer noted that Trump may have exceeded constitutional bounds in his response to the unrest, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the president acted within his rights given the circumstances in Los Angeles.
Trump celebrated this court ruling as a “big victory” on social media, reiterating his stance that without the military presence, Los Angeles could have been “burning on the ground.”
Despite the ongoing protests, ICE continues its operations in the city.
In a brief encounter, Vance expressed his disappointment that Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), who had been removed from a recent press conference, did not attend to ask questions. However, he confused Padilla’s name during his comments.
“I was hoping Jose Padilla would be here to engage, but it seems he chose not to show up because, well, there was no drama,” he remarked.
