Federal aid unleashed for LA riots, sparking heated political exchange between Trump and Newsom
- Federal disaster loan approval sparks new partisan clash between California and Washington.
- LA businesses eligible for up to 2M loans after 1 billion in riot damage.
- SBA administrator slams Newsom for “state-sanctioned crisis” amid ongoing investigations.
- Political duel over blame escalates as federal relief finally flows following months of delay.
- Federal probes target funding sources fueling “paid protestors” and violent demonstrations.
The Trump administration has authoritative resolve in its mission to secure American communities, even as it faces sharp political backlash from California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced Tuesday the approval of federal disaster loans for small businesses displaced by a week of anti-deportation riots in Los Angeles last month, a decision that immediately deepened the rift between the administration and California’s Democratic leadership.
The riots, which erupted on June 6 after President Donald Trump deployed federal agents to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), caused an estimated $1 billion in damage to downtown Los Angeles. While the SBA’s $2 million per-business loan program provides immediate financial relief, the approval process reignited accusations of political grandstanding from both sides. President Trump framed the declaration as a federal gesture to save California from its own “state-sanctioned crisis,” a notion Governor Newsom dismissed as empty theatrics.
Political bickering overshadows $1 billion riot damage in Los Angeles
The SBA’s decision followed weeks of public sparring between federal officials and Newsom’s administration. Federal agencies accused Newsom of delaying the request for disaster relief while making inflammatory social media posts and “siding with violent rioters over law-abiding Americans.” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, a frequent Trump surrogate, condemned the governor for enabling chaos: “Governor Newsom allowed a mob to rampage Los Angeles, standing with criminal illegal aliens and paid protesters over citizens.”
Newsom’s office retorted that Trump’s “authoritarian theater”—including deploying Marines and National Guard troops—inflamed tensions that led to violence. A spokesperson accused the administration of creating “Trump-imposed chaos” for political leverage. Los Angeles, meanwhile, confronts a reported $32 million in costs from the riots, encompassing infrastructure repair, lost tourism and emergency services.
The political blame game mirrors broader struggles over federalism, particularly in states like California, which has positioned itself as a progressive “sanctuary” for undocumented immigrants. Trump’s history of federal overreach into state affairs, epitomized here, continues to strain intergovernmental cooperation on immigration and public safety.
SBA steps in, citing governor’s “state-sanctioned crisis”
The Small Business Administration condemned Newsom’s inaction as irresponsible, noting he ignored repeated calls for disaster relief beginning June 9, four days into the unrest. In a June 9 statement, the SBA explicitly urged Newsom to prioritize aid over “sideshow political battles,” warning: “He should stop siding with criminal illegal aliens and start siding with law-abiding Americans.”
By the time Newsom’s office complied on July 1, rioters had torched dozens of businesses, clashed with federal agents and hijacked municipal services. Loeffler cast the delay as emblematic of Newsom’s broader approach to governance: “This is another example of radical left-wing leaders failing to protect their own communities.”
The SBA’s disaster assistance includes a provision for federal investigators to trace potential criminal liability for funding riot-related destruction. Loeffler’s team has already begun scrutinizing ties between violent demonstrators, activist groups and foreign funders facilitating “paid protests.”
Legal and financial fallout sets stage for bigger battles
The riots’ aftermath could reshape immigration policy debates and fiscal responsibility talks at the state and federal levels. Newsom’s push to “Trump-proof” California against anticipated federal actions since last year’s election—including a reported $25 million budget to challenge Trump executive orders—now appears entwined with the financial fallout from the riots.
The SBA’s dual role in post-riot recovery and criminal investigation underscores the administration’s belief that unsecured borders and “sanctuary state” policies fuel domestic instability. Meanwhile, businesses now scrambling to navigate disaster loans face long-term uncertainties about whether Los Angeles’s economy—still reeling from January wildfires and inflation—can recover without additional state support.
A new chapter in federal-state clash over public safety and fiscal accountability
As California businesses begin applying for federal loans this week, the political symbolism of the process overshadows its humanitarian purpose. For conservatives, the riots illustrate the peril of intoxicating voters with “open borders” and sidelining law enforcement. For California Democrats, the episode represents federal overreach in a state that increasingly views itself as alienated from Washington’s priorities.
With investigations ongoing into the riots’ funding sources and immigration reform looming, this episode may foreshadow more high-stakes battles between the White House and blue-state governors.
As SBA teams mobilize to aid in Los Angeles, the question remains: Will the aid calm the city’s divisions, or simply fuel the next partisan firestorm?
Sources for this article include:
YourNews.com
SBA.gov
AOL.com
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