Los Angeles descended into chaos Sunday night as anti-ICE agitators smashed windows at LAPD headquarters, clashed violently with law enforcement, and set American flags and cars ablaze. The protests, sparked by federal immigration raids, spiraled into full-scale riots, prompting a forceful federal response from President Donald Trump.

Video footage showed violent mobs targeting LAPD’s downtown headquarters, prompting police to declare an unlawful assembly and deploy tear gas. Agitators hurled fireworks and debris at officers and torched vehicles while chanting “F Trump” and spitting on burning American flags.

Despite the destruction, Democratic leaders continued to downplay the riots. California Governor Gavin Newsom accused Trump of “manufacturing chaos” by deploying 2,000 National Guard troops. “Local law enforcement didn’t need help,” he insisted on X, even as smoke from burning vehicles filled the city’s skyline and officers clashed with out-of-control crowds.

Meanwhile, DHS fired back, posting, “Federal law enforcement are working to protect and safeguard American citizens from criminal illegal aliens. Why is California’s governor siding with foreign criminals?”

President Trump had earlier described the riots as an “insurrectionist mob” and vowed to restore order. With ICE agents targeted and American streets ablaze, his administration warned that the refusal of local officials to cooperate was only emboldening the chaos.

Democrats, for their part, stuck to familiar talking points. Senator Cory Booker called the riots “peaceful protests,” bizarrely suggesting that arrests of illegal immigrants “showing up for their hearings” had triggered the unrest. He also accused Trump of hypocrisy for cracking down on the riots while pardoning January 6 defendants.

But on the ground, the images told a different story: masked rioters blocked highways, assaulted police, and vandalized federal buildings. The LAPD Central Division reported that agitators “splintered throughout the Downtown Area,” warning residents to stay alert as officers scrambled to contain multiple violent flare-ups.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed the critics, calling the federal response “common sense” and “basic law enforcement.” Speaking on Fox News, he reminded viewers of the “summer of 2020,” when similar unrest was allowed to spiral out of control. “This can’t happen this time,” Pompeo said. “President Trump and his team are taking the actions that are both appropriate and necessary to protect people.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Newsom have refused to ask for federal help, but with the streets on fire, their credibility is under siege. National Guard troops have now established perimeters around key government buildings as ICE continues its operations.

Whether the situation will deescalate or worsen in the coming days remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the political fault lines are hardening. Trump is leaning into law and order. Democrats are leaning into denial. And in the middle of it all, American cities are once again paying the price for open borders and weak leadership.