Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader from New York, criticized President Trump for escalating tensions over the conflict in Los Angeles. He suggested that Trump is doing this to shift attention away from the struggling economy.
During an interview at the Capitol, Jeffries expressed his opposition to Trump’s aggressive deportation policies and defended the right of Americans to peacefully protest government actions.
He accused Trump of “stoking flames and instigating chaos,” arguing that this detracts from the failed domestic policies of the administration. “Donald Trump is clearly trying to distract from the fact that he has a failed administration,” Jeffries remarked.
Democratic leaders have also dismissed Trump’s claims that his intervention in the L.A. immigrant protests is about restoring law and order in cities where local officials have not acted.
Jeffries highlighted that Trump hesitated to intervene when his supporters violently attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, to protest the election results. He noted that Trump later pardoned around 1,500 of those rioters, undermining any credibility he might have in discussing law and order.
“Donald Trump wasn’t a leader on January 6th. He didn’t deploy the National Guard to stop the violent mob from brutalizing police officers in front of the nation,” Jeffries said. “And this person, who likely withheld the National Guard, is lecturing the country about law and order?”
“Give me a break. We don’t buy it—especially regarding this issue,” he added. “Trump and his supporters—sycophants and extremists—lack any credibility here. Republicans have become a party characterized by lawlessness and dysfunction.”
In light of the unrest in Los Angeles, Trump mentioned over the weekend that he was ready to mobilize members of the National Guard, drawing criticism from California officials, particularly from Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom stated on Monday that he is suing the administration for its federal intervention.
“This is a manufactured crisis,” Newsom wrote on X. “He takes control of the state militia and creates fear, which violates the US Constitution.”
Jeffries expressed full support for Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, stating that local law enforcement, such as the LAPD and the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, is capable of ensuring that First Amendment rights are protected while maintaining public safety.
“The LAPD, the L.A. Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol appear well-equipped to handle the situation, allowing peaceful protests while holding those who violate the law accountable,” Jeffries concluded.
