Vance Blames California Democrats and Misnames Senator Padilla

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, visiting Los Angeles as part of a tour of the West Coast, sharply criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and the state’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla. According to Vance, California’s leadership allegedly encouraged violent actions by protesters who have taken to the streets for the third consecutive week following a federal immigration operation. Vance stated that “the protests are the result of incitement by local officials, not genuine public outrage,” adding that “Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass openly allowed these people to cross the line.”

The protests in California erupted on June 6 after President Trump’s administration launched a series of raids targeting illegal immigrants in major U.S. cities. In Los Angeles, this led to widespread clashes with police, arson, and property damage. Federal authorities deployed around four thousand National Guard troops and an additional 700 U.S. Marines. In his speech, Vance emphasized that courts had confirmed the legality of these actions, stating, “President Trump is acting fully within the law. Our duty is to restore order where local government is either powerless or unwilling to act.”

The greatest public reaction came after the Vice President mistakenly—or perhaps deliberately—referred to Senator Alex Padilla as “José Padilla,” a name shared with a convicted terrorist. The gaffe sparked outrage from Democrats, especially considering that Vance and Padilla previously served together in the Senate. Gavin Newsom responded immediately, accusing Vance of “attempting to discredit and demean a democratically elected representative.” Mayor Karen Bass called Vance’s statements “utter nonsense,” adding that “the Vice President is spreading disinformation to score political points.”

Vance did not apologize for the name mix-up and instead repeated his criticism of Padilla in a social media post, claiming, “the Senator didn’t even bother to show up and hear the federal government’s position.” Senator Padilla responded via a spokesperson, saying he had “no intention of being part of a cheap political theater.”

Following Vance’s remarks, Governor Newsom publicly challenged him to a debate, declaring, “California deserves the truth, not political showmanship.” The White House has not commented on whether the Vice President will participate in such a debate, but a source close to the administration told reporters that “Vance is ready for open dialogue in any format.”

According to law enforcement, more than 600 people have been arrested during the three weeks of unrest in California. Dozens of buildings, including three municipal facilities, have been damaged. Despite federal authorities’ statements that the situation is under control, mass protests continue, and curfews remain in place in several districts.