In a stunning display of liberal media bias, California Democrat Rep. Nanette Barragán attempted to downplay the violent riots sweeping Southern California by labeling them as “peaceful protests” during a CNN interview—even as footage of a burning car played right beside her. The cognitive dissonance was on full display as Barragán, speaking with anchor Dana Bash on State of the Union, claimed President Donald Trump was targeting “peaceful protests” while the screen showed undeniable evidence of arson and lawlessness.
“The president is sending the National Guard because he doesn’t like the scenes,” Barragán said, as CNN aired clips of the riots. “He doesn’t like the scenes of people peacefully protesting.” Yet, the network’s own footage contradicted her narrative, showing a vehicle engulfed in flames—hardly the hallmark of peaceful demonstrations. This blatant hypocrisy underscores the left’s refusal to acknowledge the violent reality of these riots, instead choosing to blame Trump for taking decisive action to restore order.
The riots erupted after far-left agitators sought to disrupt Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, leading to chaos in Los Angeles and beyond. While local leaders like Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom failed to act, President Trump stepped in by federalizing 2,000 California National Guard troops to protect communities and uphold the rule of law. Barragán, however, dismissed this necessary intervention as “escalation,” ignoring the fact that the National Guard was only deployed after the riots spiraled out of control.
In a feeble attempt to distance herself from the violence, Barragán claimed, “Those are not the people that are coming out to protest immigration,” adding, “We agree that if you’re being violent, you should be arrested. You should be prosecuted. There is no disagreement on that.” Yet her rhetoric rings hollow when she and her fellow Democrats continue to embolden lawless behavior by refusing to condemn the riots outright.
Barragán later took to X to double down on her narrative, writing, “We’ve been told to prepare for 30 straight days of ICE enforcement in LA County. Sending 2,000 Natl Guard troops into our communities is not about safety—it’s about escalation.” She then hypocritically urged, “But I want to remind everyone in LA: violence is not the answer. If you protest, do it peacefully.”
We’ve been told to prepare for 30 straight days of ICE enforcement in LA County. Sending 2,000 Natl Guard troops into our communities is not about safety — it’s about escalation. People are angry, and I understand why.
But I want to remind everyone in LA: violence is not the… https://t.co/nxSTopTdha
— Nanette D. Barragán (@RepBarragan) June 8, 2025
The liberal media’s complicity in this charade is glaring. Instead of holding rioters accountable, outlets like CNN provide a platform for Democrats to whitewash destruction as “peaceful protest.” Meanwhile, President Trump stands as the only leader willing to take action against the anarchy that leftist politicians and their media allies enable.