[By Joel Kotkin, translated by Guo Han of Observer Network]

Los Angeles has a long and contentious history—and that history is reignited now.

The current unrest partly stems from political dissatisfaction but reflects deeper political failure eroding the foundation of this city. Once the cradle of conservatism and the political hometown of Ronald Reagan, Los Angeles has become a center for the resurgence of American radicalism and, in the eyes of many foreigners, a symbol of why America supports populist strongmen like Donald Trump.

Rumors are circulating that Trump might not be satisfied with deploying the National Guard and may even send in the Marines to quell the unrest. This move, though extreme, is typical of his style. But for anyone familiar with Los Angeles' history—considering how protests often escalate into violence and tragedy (the author has witnessed this firsthand over 40 years of living here)—such an arrangement may not be entirely out of touch with the city's turbulent reality.

On June 8, 2025, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents dispersed protesters outside the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles. Visual China

Many immigrants have found both opportunities and deep disappointments in Los Angeles. African Americans who flooded in during the 1930s and 1940s, escaping overt racism in the South, encountered hostile law enforcement and severely discriminatory housing policies in Los Angeles. Their disillusionment eventually erupted, leading to two of the most intense race riots in U.S. history (both in Los Angeles): the Watts riots in 1965 and the riots following the Rodney King verdict in 1992.

For today’s many immigrants, especially undocumented ones, integrating into the broader society remains extremely difficult. But unlike African Americans in the 1960s, they arrive in a city that can no longer offer as many opportunities. The income and homeownership rates for Latinos in Los Angeles are among the lowest in the nation when adjusted for cost of living. Most of them, including those arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the past two days, remain trapped in low-wage economies. Violent conflicts occurring at Paramount Home Depot—a common gathering place for illegal immigrants in Los Angeles—could be replayed in other parts of the city.

These individuals deserve our respect and concern, especially since they work hard and are not involved in street crime. However, there are also numerous criminals taking advantage of the chaos to join the street unrest. These "looting" gangs even organize people to strip copper wires from streetlights, plunging some urban areas into darkness. Moreover, the troubled expansion project of the public transportation system has been obstructed due to ongoing violence and destruction.

To the delight of Trump and his right-wing supporters, Los Angeles serves as a true reflection of the failure of progressive governance in America. Despite billions of dollars invested in public services, the city still faces a worsening budget crisis—meanwhile, the number of new homes built per capita is almost lower than in all other major metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Downtown Los Angeles, once the focus of massive investments in public transit and convention infrastructure, has now become a textbook example of failure: an unfinished skyscraper covered in graffiti, surrounded by homeless encampments, a landscape of dilapidated buildings, some of which have been deliberately set on fire.

The political situation is unlikely to improve in the short term. Left-leaning Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles seems unwilling to discuss distinctions between legal and illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, Democratic socialist Isabel Jurado recently won a local election in East Los Angeles, making matters worse. She does not stop at defunding the police; she wants to abolish the department entirely.

Protesters confront police after immigration raids in Los Angeles on the evening of July 7. Visual China

Meanwhile, local media, especially the Los Angeles Times, continues to echo the narratives favored by protesters, blurring the line between news reporting and advocacy.

All of this leaves the second-largest metropolis in America looking less glamorous and prosperous and more chaotic and decaying before the world. In today's era, the state of Los Angeles is worrying—especially as America's future is increasingly shaped by other places more willing to constrain violence or political extremism. Until the municipal leaders of Los Angeles are determined to restore order, it will remain a typical example cited by Trump: a politically failed American city providing nourishment for his rough yet possibly effective political strategies.

(Originally published on the British left-wing commentary site UnHerd, titled: “Los Angeles Unrest Reflects the Failure of Progressive Leadership.” Translation is provided for reader reference only and does not represent the views of the Observer Network.)

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