Democratic Senator John Fetterman shocks party leaders by condemning Los Angeles riots as “anarchy and true chaos” amid mounting pressure on President Trump’s deployment of military forces. The Pennsylvania Senator’s unusually direct criticism of fellow Democrats for failing to denounce violence has earned him rare praise from conservatives while highlighting deepening divisions within the Democratic Party over appropriate responses to civil unrest.
Fetterman Breaks From Democratic Party Line
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has emerged as an unexpected voice of reason for conservatives amid violent protests that have engulfed Los Angeles over immigration enforcement. The Democratic lawmaker shared a striking photo on social media showing a car ablaze and a person waving a Mexican flag, directly challenging his own party’s reluctance to condemn the destruction.
“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that,” Fetterman wrote in his viral social media post that quickly garnered attention across the political spectrum. His straightforward approach stands in stark contrast to many Democratic colleagues who have remained silent about the violence or attempted to redirect blame toward the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Trump Deploys Military as Violence Escalates
President Trump has taken decisive action by deploying 5,000 military personnel to Los Angeles after local authorities failed to contain the escalating violence. California Governor Gavin Newsom has predictably opposed the federal intervention, filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration while scrambling to deploy additional state law enforcement resources that should have been mobilized days earlier.
Sen. John Fetterman scolded fellow Democrats for refusing to condemn the violent protests across Los Angeles: "This is anarchy and true chaos." https://t.co/sNkovHyGS1
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) June 10, 2025
Law enforcement has made over 100 arrests as rioters continue to destroy property, set fires, and attack police officers throughout parts of Los Angeles. Democratic lawmakers in Congress have attempted to frame the situation as a “manufactured crisis” orchestrated by President Trump, with Rep. Jimmy Gomez shamefully claiming the unrest is “a deliberate attempt by Trump to incite unrest, test the limits of executive power, and distract from the lawlessness of his administration.”
Conservatives Applaud Fetterman’s Stand Against Violence
Fetterman’s unflinching condemnation of the riots has earned him widespread praise from Republicans and conservatives who view him as a rare Democrat willing to put country before party. “John Fetterman is once again a voice of reason within the Democrat party,” wrote conservative commentator Eyal Yakoby, while Republican Rep. Mike Lawler added, “He is 💯 correct. As I have always said, anyone who engages in this type of conduct, whether in LA, in Minneapolis, in Portland, or on January 6th should be arrested and prosecuted.”
“My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.” – Senator John Fetterman
This isn’t the first time Fetterman has broken ranks with Democratic orthodoxy since entering the Senate following his 2022 election victory. The Pennsylvania Democrat has previously denounced anti-Israel campus protests and even voiced support for some of President Trump’s Middle East policies, positions that have earned him growing respect from conservatives despite fierce criticism from the progressive wing of his party.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/us/politics/fetterman-la-protests-anarchy.html
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fetterman-emerges-dems-voice-reason-la-burns-conservatives-say