Political Showdown: Vance Meets Troops Amidst Los Angeles Immigration Protests

Republican Vice President JD Vance visited troops in Los Angeles on Friday, where President Donald Trump recently deployed forces to control protests sparked by immigration raids. Vance criticized Democratic leaders, alleging they encouraged illegal border crossings and neglected local law enforcement.

During his visit to meet 700 U.S. Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops, Vance defended Trump's decision to send these forces, a move opposed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. The deployment has ignited national debate over military use domestically and increased political strains in Los Angeles.

While supporting the presence of troops, Vance gave no timeline for their withdrawal and accused local and state leaders of failing to enforce immigration laws. Meanwhile, Governor Newsom's spokesperson refuted Vance's claims, arguing that Trump's actions escalated tensions and were unconstitutional.

(With inputs from agencies.)