Graffiti threats targeting President Trump and VP Vance surface during LA riots following ICE arrests.

Federal authorities are responding to escalating unrest in Los Angeles after threatening graffiti messages directed at President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance appeared across the city. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it is aware of the violent rhetoric but did not disclose whether a formal investigation is underway.

The graffiti, which included phrases such as “Kill Trump” and “JD Vance”, was seen in downtown Los Angeles amid continued riots following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting illegal immigrants with criminal convictions. Other messages included “Burn it all down”, reflecting the heightened tension on the streets.

Protests first erupted in Paramount, California, over the weekend after ICE arrested multiple individuals with serious criminal records, including convictions for murder, sex crimes involving children, and violent battery. The unrest quickly spread to Los Angeles, where vehicles were set on fire, storefronts were looted, and anti-ICE and anti-Trump slogans were spray-painted throughout the city.

President Trump activated the California National Guard and deployed U.S. Marines to restore order. A legal dispute with Governor Gavin Newsom over command of the National Guard remains ongoing. Meanwhile, other federal agencies have joined the response effort.

Federal Response and Warnings

FBI Director Kash Patel issued a warning to those involved in the violence, stating that anyone assaulting a law enforcement officer would face immediate legal consequences. “It doesn’t matter where you came from, how you got here, or what cause you claim to represent,” Patel emphasized. “If local jurisdictions won’t stand behind the men and women who wear the badge, the FBI will.”

Since the riots began, hundreds have been arrested across Los Angeles. Law enforcement continues to face resistance from demonstrators opposed to ongoing ICE operations. Despite the opposition, federal authorities insist the operations will proceed as planned.

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the enforcement actions in a statement on Wednesday. “Murderers, pedophiles, and drug traffickers—these are the types of criminal illegal aliens that rioters are fighting to protect,” she said. “How much longer will Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass continue to prioritize these criminal illegal aliens over their own citizens?”

McLaughlin added that the administration remains committed to law enforcement efforts. “Secretary Noem has a message to the LA rioters: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law and arrest criminal illegal aliens.”

As federal and local agencies continue their coordinated response, tensions remain high in affected neighborhoods. The Trump administration has indicated no plans to scale back immigration enforcement despite public backlash and street-level resistance.