Americans are putting more blame onto President Donald Trump for unrest in Los Angeles but still support his decision to call in the National Guard to quell protests over his immigration policy that have grown violent this month, according to a new poll.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.
Why It Matters
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted raids across the country after Trump’s pledge to carry out mass deportations, sparking protests in Los Angeles and other cities. While most protesters were peaceful, there have been instances of violence.
Trump deployed about 4,000 members of California’s National Guard and the 700 U.S. Marines to assist in stopping violence, despite objections from Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, and other local officials who said his actions would escalate the situation. The protests are a flashpoint for Americans’ views on Trump’s immigration policy, and the poll is one of several indicators of how Americans are viewing the demonstrations.
The raids are following legal directives from federal authorities, but critics have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants by federal authorities as well as the tactics used by immigration agents during the raids.
The protests in Los Angeles reflected a broader polarization in American attitudes toward Trump’s immigration enforcement. While many Americans support the use of military force to restore order if protests become violent, as shown in recent polling, many still disapprove of Trump’s overall handling of the situation.
What to Know
A majority of voters said they blame Trump for the unrest in Los Angeles, according to a new Harvard/Harris poll.
The poll asked respondents whether Trump is to blame “for his immigration policies and deploying the national guard” or if local leaders such as Governor Gavin Newsom or Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass are responsible “for calling to resist federal agents and not deploying the police to stop violence?”
Fifty-five percent said they blame Trump, while 45 percent said they blame Bass and Newsom. Independents were slightly more divided—with 52 percent blaming Trump and 48 percent blaming local leaders.
At the same time, 56 percent said they support Trump’s decision to bring in the National Guard to quell protests that grew violent. Fifty-five percent said Trump should be able to “deploy the national guard to protect federal agents and property when local city and state law enforcement won’t act or should the national guard only be deployed at the request of the state,” according to the poll.
The poll surveyed 2,097 registered voters from June 11 to June 12, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last Friday found that 48 percent of Americans support Trump’s decision to “deploy the military to bring order to the streets” in the case of protests that turn violent, while 41 percent disagreed. That poll surveyed 1,136 Americans and ended on Thursday. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday: “His plan is clear: Incite violence and chaos in blue states, have an excuse to militarize our cities, demonize his opponents, keep breaking the law and consolidate power. It’s illegal and we will not let it stand.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek on Monday: “Violent rioters in Los Angeles, enabled by Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom, have attacked American law enforcement, set cars on fire, and fueled lawless chaos. President Trump rightfully stepped in to protect federal law enforcement officers when Governor Newsom refused.”
Senator Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, wrote in a letter to Senator Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee: “Governor Newsom, the commander in chief of the California National Guard, has specifically called for the President to defederalize the Guard and remove these service members. Nevertheless, the President has harmed public safety by federalizing a state’s National Guard against the wishes of the governor and sending them into a state whose law enforcement is already dealing with the protests.”
What Happens Next
Trump has vowed to “expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside” in a Sunday Truth Social post. The Los Angeles Times reported that protests had slowed by Sunday, but the administration and local officials may continue facing political fallout from the unrest.
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