Helicopter Mayor Karen Bass Soars Above LA Chaos, Calls It ‘Peaceful’ [WATCH]

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the latest wave of protests in her city as “overwhelmingly peaceful” during a Sunday appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, despite widespread vandalism, looting, and violent confrontations that prompted federal deployment of troops.

Speaking with host Dana Bash, Bass explained that she surveyed the city by helicopter during the latest “No Kings” protest on Saturday, part of a growing anti-Trump movement that has resulted in ongoing demonstrations and riots across Los Angeles since June 6.

“I have to say that yesterday I spent time in the helicopter, so I went all over the city in search of these Marines. And I’m sorry, but I just didn’t see them,” Bass said.

“What the troops are doing, the Federalized National Guard, is protecting the federal building.”

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Bass acknowledged that both the National Guard and U.S. Marines had been deployed but asserted the city remained under local control.

“I think that detention that happened was an isolated incident, and I believe it was outside of the city of Los Angeles, but I do want to dispel the notion that the military is here,” she said.

“We don’t want them here. They don’t need to be here. Our local law enforcement have complete control of this situation.”

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The White House confirmed last week that President Donald Trump had ordered 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in response to ongoing civil unrest.

Federal troops were stationed primarily at the city’s federal building, with Marines detaining a man on Friday and National Guard troops detaining another individual during Saturday’s protest, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF).

Despite Bass’s claim that the day’s events were largely nonviolent, DCNF footage and on-site reporting documented escalating tensions in downtown Los Angeles.

Around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, protesters began taunting and confronting the National Guard stationed near the federal building. As the situation intensified, law enforcement declared an unlawful assembly.

Both Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to disperse the crowd from the area surrounding the federal complex.

Tear gas was deployed at approximately 4:18 p.m., as protesters resisted orders to move.

Some individuals reportedly attempted to kick or throw tear gas canisters back toward officers, prolonging clashes well into the evening.

By 8:40 p.m., the crowd had largely cleared the streets in accordance with an 8 p.m. citywide curfew.

Law enforcement reported multiple injuries and arrests, although exact figures have not yet been released.

“There were protests in 15 different locations in our city,” Bass said.

“I flew over each one of them, and they were overwhelmingly peaceful.”

She added, “It’s not shocking that at the end of a protest that you’re going to have some confrontation. Of course, I wish there was none at all, but I don’t think that characterized the day at all. I mean, otherwise, more than five people would have been arrested.”

Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom have both been critical of the federal troop deployment, insisting local agencies are fully equipped to handle the unrest.

However, downtown Los Angeles has seen continuous acts of destruction since early June.

Waymo autonomous vehicles were set on fire, numerous businesses were looted, and public property was vandalized throughout the protests.

The “No Kings” demonstrations—organized in opposition to President Trump—have intensified across major U.S. cities, but Los Angeles has experienced some of the most sustained activity.

Federal and local officials are continuing to assess the response.

President Trump’s deployment of active-duty Marines in addition to the National Guard marks a rare federal intervention in a domestic protest scenario, underscoring the administration’s approach to maintaining order in areas facing prolonged unrest.

Mayor Bass has not announced any changes in law enforcement strategy following the weekend’s events, and protests are expected to continue in the coming days.

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