Senator John Fetterman sounded the alarm this week, warning that violent anti-ICE riots erupting across Los Angeles are politically disastrous for Democrats—and a gift to President Trump.
In a blunt message posted to X, Fetterman condemned the chaos: “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.” He warned that viral footage of rioters waving foreign flags and torching property would alienate working-class voters in swing states like Pennsylvania.
Joining HBO host Bill Maher, the two openly acknowledged the political impact. “That guy waving the Mexican flag while the Waymo burns behind him? That image will help Trump,” Maher said. Fetterman didn’t dispute it—instead, he nodded, saying Americans see those scenes and think: “What the hell is happening to this country?”
Fetterman’s comments highlight growing unease within the Democratic Party. With videos of rioters overwhelming police, storming ICE facilities, and attacking National Guard troops flooding social media, many Democrats fear the optics are reinforcing Trump’s core message: lawlessness under liberal leadership.
While some on the left have tried to reframe the unrest as justified protest, Fetterman’s warning is clear—if Democrats fail to draw a hard line against chaos, they risk handing Trump a powerful campaign weapon heading into November.