Los Angeles burned, and Hillary Clinton called it a picnic. The former Secretary of State sparked a firestorm of backlash by describing destructive riots in the city as "peaceful demonstrations" on social media, while pointing the finger at President Donald Trump for deploying the National Guard to restore order. It’s a statement so detached from reality, one wonders if she’s watching the same news as the rest of us.
According to Fox News, the chaos in Los Angeles erupted on the evening of Friday, June 7, 2025, following federal immigration raids tied to President Trump’s policy of deporting unauthorized migrants who arrived during the prior administration, escalating into widespread violence that demanded federal intervention.
It started with protests against the raids, but things quickly spiraled out of control. Rioters hurled rocks at federal law enforcement, looted businesses, torched cars, and even blocked a freeway, turning parts of the city into a war zone. Visual evidence paints a grim picture: fires raging outside industrial areas, vehicles ablaze on major streets, and protesters defiantly waving flags atop charred wreckage in Paramount, California.
By the next day, Saturday, June 8, 2025, the unrest showed no signs of slowing, with footage capturing demonstrators in downtown Los Angeles attempting to obstruct law enforcement vehicles from accessing highways. President Trump responded swiftly, announcing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members to quell the violence, a move that bypassed the usual protocol of waiting for a governor’s request.
Local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, condemned the federal raids and voiced support for unauthorized migrants in the state. Their stance clashed sharply with Trump’s actions, and California soon filed a lawsuit against his administration, accusing it of overstepping by attempting to federalize the state’s National Guard.
As the riots dragged into Monday, June 10, 2025, the Trump administration upped the ante, deploying around 700 U.S. Marines from a specific unit to safeguard federal personnel and property in the greater Los Angeles area. According to U.S. Northern Command, these forces were to "seamlessly integrate" with other federal units under a designated task force. It’s a stark reminder that when local control falters, federal might steps in.
Enter Hillary Clinton, who took to social media on a Tuesday morning to weigh in with a take that left many scratching their heads. She insisted the riots were "peaceful demonstrations" and accused Trump of sowing chaos by sending in the National Guard without Governor Newsom’s consent. "Trump's goal is to cause chaos, because chaos is good for Trump," she wrote, as if the burning cars and looted stores were mere background noise.
Let’s unpack that for a moment. Calling rampant destruction "peaceful" isn’t just a stretch—it’s a full-on marathon. If this is peace, one shudders to imagine what Clinton considers chaos, especially when the evidence of violence is splashed across every screen in America.
Adding fuel to the fire, Clinton restricted comments on her post, allowing only accounts she follows to reply directly. Social media users, limited to quote engagements, didn’t hold back, with one popular conservative account quipping, "Comments off lol. She can’t handle the ratio."
The backlash was swift and sharp, with public figures and everyday users alike calling out Clinton for mischaracterizing the riots and dodging criticism by limiting responses. Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna cut straight to the point, stating, "These are not peaceful, Hillary." Another user mused, "Ever notice that only leftists disable comments?"—a jab at the perceived aversion to open debate.
President Trump, meanwhile, defended his decisive action in a social media post early that same Tuesday morning, asserting that without his intervention over the prior three nights, Los Angeles would be "burning to the ground right now." He also took a swipe at local leaders, referencing earlier wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes in southern California, accusing state and city officials of bungling rebuilding efforts while federal permitting was nearly done.
Trump’s frustration is palpable, and it’s hard to argue with the logic: if local governance can’t handle crises—be it riots or reconstruction—someone has to step up. "People want to rebuild their houses," he noted, urging residents to pressure their "incompetent" state and city leaders. Turns out, actions—or inaction—have consequences.
The deployment of federal forces, both National Guard and Marines, has ignited a fierce debate over state versus federal authority, with California’s lawsuit signaling deep resistance to Trump’s approach. Yet, when streets are ablaze and law enforcement is overwhelmed, waiting for bureaucratic niceties seems like a luxury few can afford.
Clinton’s office, when contacted by Fox News Digital for clarification on her remarks, offered no immediate response, leaving her statement to stand alone amid the criticism. It’s a silence that speaks volumes, especially when the public is hungry for accountability from leaders who seem out of touch with the chaos unfolding on the ground.
As Los Angeles grapples with the aftermath of these violent outbreaks, the divide between federal action and local sentiment couldn’t be clearer. Trump’s supporters see a president taking charge in a crisis, while critics like Clinton frame it as overreach. One thing is certain: dismissing destruction as "peaceful" won’t rebuild burned-out neighborhoods or bridge the growing political chasm.
