Actress and former Family Ties star Justine Bateman unleashed harsh criticism toward the mayors of Los Angeles and Chicago after both appeared on MSNBC to attack President Donald Trump’s stance on crime. Bateman specifically targeted Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, questioning why the city’s top executive was on national television instead of addressing urgent local issues.
Bateman responded to a video clip posted by Mayor Bass, which featured both Bass and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson dismissing President Trump’s tough-on-crime messaging as “sowing fear.” The actress fired back on X, writing, “For the love of God, can you just do your job?” She continued, “Can you attend to the city of Los Angeles? What are you doing on national news shows?”
Bateman didn’t stop there. She listed specific areas of neglect under Mayor Bass’s leadership, including unfilled potholes, rising crime, wildfire preparedness, and inoperable emergency vehicles. “Unless you’re running for President, we don’t see the purpose. Use your time instead to fill our potholes, deal with the city’s crime, get the reservoirs filled for the next fire, get the @LAFD off-line trucks fixed, etc.,” she added.
This is not the first time Bateman has publicly condemned Democratic leadership in California. Earlier this year, she criticized local and state officials for failing to manage recurring disasters like wildfires and earthquakes. In a Fox News interview, Bateman said, “If you’re not doing everything you can to take care of those problems if they arise, then get out [of office]. You are useless to us.”
Bateman further warned that failure to manage basic city services harms residents directly. “You didn’t do what we pay you for, and you should resign out of shame and responsibility for the people whose lives you destroyed right now.”
