Los Angeles is burning—again. This time, the flames aren’t just literal wildfires but a violent reaction to immigration enforcement, with both American citizens and foreign nationals defying ICE operations and resisting lawful deportation. These aren’t protests; they’re a chaotic insurgency on American soil, with rioters who believe they’re above the law. Federal agents were deployed to restore order, only to face mass rioting. This is a crisis of sovereignty that demands decisive action—action that Governor Gavin Newsom has failed to step up and provide. California’s chaos, fueled by Newsom’s inaction, demands a law enforcement veteran to restore order.
When the riots began, President Donald Trump acted quickly, and deployed the National Guard and Marines. Like the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, these warriors don’t posture, they defend. Amid the LA riots, the presence of these forces serves not as provocation but as a symbol of order in the chaos. Yet, while federal forces stand firm to protect our streets, California’s own leadership falters. But Newsom? He offered staged photo-ops and recycled talking points, daring the feds to “come arrest me” while Californians suffer. Citizens are terrified. California is bleeding, and Newsom’s selfies can’t stop the hemorrhage. Leadership isn’t about filters or retweets—it’s about results.
Newsom’s failure to control the riots is just his latest shortcoming as California’s elected leader. Beyond the chaos in our streets, the state’s collapse under his watch is undeniable, driven by a massive exodus and economic unraveling. In 2024, over 239,000 residents fled California—the largest domestic out-migration in the nation. The vast majority are moving to red states, like Texas and Wyoming, or swing states, like Nevada and Arizona. They are leaving a state that was once considered the most prosperous in the nation due to skyrocketing taxes, unaffordable housing costs, sluggish job growth—and most notably—the progressive policies and political polarization that have plagued California.
Not only are our people leaving, but our economic powerhouses are leaving too. Since 2019, more than 200 major corporations, including Tesla, Oracle, and Chevron, have deserted the state to go elsewhere. The economic strain intensifies with retail and office vacancies in L.A. spiking 15%, culminating in the failure of public schools. The state once known for innovation and prosperity has become the poster child for dysfunction. You want to see a preview of national collapse? Look no further than California. This is what it looks like when leadership abandons law and order. This is what it looks like when your governor is more interested in MSNBC interviews and hair gel commercials than securing the lives of the people he was elected to protect.
The consequences of this failure are clear, the streets that were once filled with thriving businesses and tourists now lie in ruins as protesters and federal forces clash in a battle for control. With every rock thrown, car set ablaze, and building vandalized, the need for real leadership grows. Only real leadership, not influencer-style self-promotion, can end it. Lives, livelihoods, and freedom hang in the balance. To restore that balance, California is crumbling, and it needs a new kind of leader, one who has worn a badge, not a Broadway smile. We don’t need another career politician. We need someone who has made arrests, run operations, led real missions and understands that without law and order, nothing else can thrive. We need a governor who knows how to lock a door, not just open one for a donor fundraiser.
Our brothers and sisters in blue need sustained funding to keep Californians safe from the criminals and radicals destroying cities like Los Angeles. Better-funded police departments are not just a luxury, they are a necessity in times of crisis. The riots are revealing to us what is happening and what will continue to happen in American cities that are facing understaffed and under-resourced law enforcement agencies. In Los Angeles, the chaos on the streets is exacerbated by a lack of coordination with federal operations due to sanctuary city policies.
Sanctuary laws prioritize illegal immigrants over the safety of American citizens. These policies cause confusion and prevent police from cooperating with federal authorities to remove those who threaten our society, especially those with violent criminal histories. They prevent local police from doing their jobs effectively, resulting in dangerous criminals remaining in our communities. Ending these laws could bring more clarity and consistency to law enforcement across the state, helping all Californians feel safer where they live.
As a veteran, and someone leading a team of veteran border security operators, I can’t just sit behind a desk and write these words—I’m headed to the front lines. While Newsom plays defense for lawlessness, we’re putting boots on the ground to gather firsthand intelligence, protect federal personnel, and expose what’s really happening on our soil. I didn’t serve this country to watch it get torn apart from within. I didn’t swear an oath to the Constitution to later watch it be used as a doormat for political games. My team and I are answering the call because no one else will. And if Newsom won’t defend our state, we damn sure will.
The time for half-measures and political theater is over. California stands at a crossroads: continue down the path of dysfunction, or choose true leadership rooted in experience, courage, and a commitment to law and order. As the flames of LA’s riots expand, the need for a governor who prioritizes citizens safety and stability, over staged appearances, becomes undeniable. The people of California deserve more than staged appearances and empty rhetoric, they deserve a governor who understands that safety, security, and stability are not negotiable.
This isn’t just California’s problem anymore. It’s America’s warning.