Trump Pardons Jan. 6 Rioters, Targets LA Protesters \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Trump has pardoned over 1,000 January 6 rioters, including hundreds convicted of assaulting police. Yet he warned Los Angeles protesters of harsh retaliation amid anti-immigration demonstrations. Critics say the president is applying justice unequally to supporters and opponents alike.
Quick Looks
- Trump pardoned more than 1,000 Jan. 6 defendants, including violent offenders.
- Posted warning to LA protesters: “IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT.”
- Over 270 pardoned were convicted of assaulting law enforcement.
- Trump activated Marines and National Guard in LA over local objections.
- LA protests stemmed from immigration raids and DHS staging.
- Critics say Trump uses civil unrest to expand executive power.
- Newsom calls Trump’s actions “authoritarian”; Republicans also object.
- Experts warn of long-term damage to public trust in police.
Deep Look
President Donald Trump’s contrasting responses to two major protests—the January 6 Capitol riot and the recent immigration-related demonstrations in Los Angeles—have drawn sharp criticism and highlighted what many see as a selective application of justice. In early January 2025, Trump issued blanket pardons to more than 1,000 individuals involved in the Jan. 6 attacks, including at least 276 convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers. These violent acts involved beating police with flagpoles, hockey sticks, and crutches, and were widely documented on body and surveillance cameras.
Yet when protests erupted in Downtown Los Angeles—sparked by federal immigration raids and the surge of National Guard troops—Trump responded with a starkly different tone. He warned protesters:
“IF THEY SPIT, WE WILL HIT…and I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before.”
That threat came after he bypassed both Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, deploying nearly 2,000 National Guard members and U.S. Marines. Trump claimed this was a necessary law-and-order response, dismissing objections by California officials as political obstruction. Meanwhile, hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters, who had physically attacked police in Washington, were granted clemency without condemnation.
Double Standard on Defendants
Experts across the political spectrum point to Trump’s inconsistent treatment of these groups as evidence of his Politically driven approach to law enforcement. Darmentarian Brendan Nyhan of Dartmouth, for instance, stated Trump values law enforcement only when it aligns with his political goals.
Moreover, former prosecutor Mike Romano warns that this type of “transactional” justice—where peaceful protesters are threatened yet those who assaulted police are pardoned—damages public trust in law enforcement and undermines the legitimacy of legal institutions.
Historical Context: Comparable Deployments
The use of National Guard troops in Los Angeles hasn’t occurred since the Rodney King riots of 1992, when President George H.W. Bush invoked the Insurrection Act amid widespread violence. Unlike 1992, the current protests have been highly localized and contained, mostly encompassing several blocks of downtown LA.
Still, Trump’s decision to enforce National Guard and Marines in response to relatively limited civil unrest stands in contrast to relatively hands-off approaches during more severe national crises—such as the Capitol insurrection—which he largely encouraged.
Political and Local Backlash
In California, even some Republican figures rebuked Trump’s move. Los Angeles businessman Rick Caruso criticized deploying the Guard as unnecessary, while Gov. Newsom described it as “authoritarian.”
No formal legal activation of the Insurrection Act has been made, but deployment of federal troops alongside state guards indicates a broad interpretation of presidential authority—one many believe undermines state sovereignty.
Risks to Police and Public Trust
Romanos argues that if law enforcement officers are seen as extensions of political power rather than neutral enforcers of law, they risk losing public trust. He cites an alarming trend during the Capitol attack, where rioters expected a lenient response given their support for Trump—or even assumed police cooperation, based on earlier national events.
What It All Adds Up To
With Trump in power again, experts believe the double standard in protester treatment and executive overreach signal a dangerous shift. Trump’s actions reflect a playbook where supporters are excused—opponents are suppressed, raising alarms about the erosion of equal justice under American law. Commentary from legal and political analysts suggests that such selective enforcement may have long-term damaging effects on governance, societal trust in law enforcement, and the political viability of protest as a form of civic expression.
The unresolved question now is how long the country will tolerate this two-tier system of justice, and whether the upcoming election cycle will recalibrate or reinforce this troubling dynamic.
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