Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass claimed on Sunday that President Donald Trump fails to grasp the vital role immigrant labor plays in sustaining key sectors of the U.S. economy. Speaking to CNN’s “State of the Union,” Bass responded to questions about the violent fallout from weekend anti-Trump demonstrations in Los Angeles.
Host Dana Bash noted that over 20,000 protestors gathered in Los Angeles for the nationwide “No Kings” protests. While most demonstrations remained peaceful, a violent clash broke out near a federal building, raising concerns about safety and law enforcement response.
Bass downplayed the scale of the unrest, stating, “There were a lot of people out, about 30,000. Out of that big crowd, five people were arrested, about 30 were cited, and there were injuries on both sides.” She acknowledged that both police officers and protestors sustained injuries during the confrontations.
The mayor went on to attribute the escalated tensions to recent immigration enforcement actions. “If the raids hadn’t happened, then that protest would have remained a No Kings protest,” Bass said, referencing months of prior planning by protest organizers. She blamed federal immigration raids for heightening fear and destabilizing communities.
Bass emphasized the economic ramifications, asserting that the president’s actions are harming the U.S. economy. “The disruption and the fear that has been caused by the outrage of the raids has really had a devastating effect and has been a body blow to our economy,” she said. “I don’t think the president understands that we have entire sectors of our economy that cannot function without immigrant labor.”
The mayor’s remarks arrive as President Trump doubles down on immigration enforcement ahead of the 2024 election, drawing sharp criticism from Democratic officials in major cities across the country.
