Senator John Fetterman is breaking ranks with fellow Democrats, slamming party leadership for turning a blind eye to the chaos unfolding in Los Angeles. In a blunt message posted to social media, Fetterman called the violent anti-ICE protests “anarchy and true chaos,” warning that Democrats are surrendering the moral high ground by refusing to condemn the destruction.
“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that. This is anarchy and true chaos. My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.”
I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that.
This is anarchy and true chaos.
My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/pPYbvP6xR0
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) June 10, 2025
The statement came alongside an image of a masked protester standing atop a burning vehicle, waving a Mexican flag—symbolic of the raw lawlessness gripping parts of L.A. since the start of federal immigration enforcement actions last week.
Unlike Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass, who have focused their criticism on President Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to restore order, Fetterman turned his fire inward. He made it clear that enabling violence for the sake of political optics is not leadership—it’s cowardice.
Republicans quickly seized on Fetterman’s remarks, pointing to the rare moment of honesty from within Democrat ranks. “At least one of them is telling the truth,” one GOP strategist said. “The rest are still pretending this is some kind of peaceful protest.”
With federal troops now on the ground, and lawsuits flying between California and the Trump administration, the political divide over immigration enforcement is hardening. But Fetterman’s rebuke cuts through the noise: Democratic leaders can’t claim to defend democracy while tolerating street-level lawlessness.
His message: if the party won’t speak up against riots, then it no longer speaks for working-class Americans who demand order, safety, and common sense.