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California Governor Gavin Newsom is fiercely contesting claims made by the Trump administration, accusing them of disseminating manipulated images related to recent Los Angeles protests.
The controversy erupted after the Department of Defense’s Rapid Response account, active on X (formerly Twitter), posted a video purportedly depicting burning police vehicles and graffiti-laden streets during demonstrations in Los Angeles.
However, fact-checking organization Snopes quickly debunked the images, confirming they were from protests following the death of George Floyd in May 2020.
Newsom’s office responded sharply on X, stating, “HUGE DEVELOPMENT: An official Department of Defense account is spreading fake images—from old protests—to justify Trump’s illegal militarization of Los Angeles. This isn’t just disinformation. It’s a propaganda campaign from the Pentagon.”
In response, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, issued a statement to Newsweek: “Gavin Newsom has let L.A. burn to the ground on so many occasions, it’s hard to distinguish between all the lawlessness, violence, and chaos throughout the last few years. President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are stepping up to protect federal law-enforcement officers and federal property—even if Gavin Newsom will not.”
Context: Protests and Military Deployment
The accusations follow a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Los Angeles on June 6, which triggered widespread protests. Citing reports of violence against law enforcement, President Trump authorized the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city, a move Governor Newsom did not endorse.
Trump has defended his decision, claiming the military presence was necessary to prevent Los Angeles from “burning to the ground.” California officials, however, argue that the protests did not warrant such a drastic response.
These protests, sparked by Trump’s immigration policies, have since expanded to other cities. Amidst heightened tensions, a military parade is scheduled in Washington, D.C., on Saturday to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The “No Kings” movement is organizing 1,800 simultaneous protests nationwide, coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday.
DOD’s Social Media Activity Under Scrutiny
The DOD Rapid Response account, which launched in February and boasts over 180,000 followers, describes itself as “Supporting The Mission Of @SecDef And Fighting Against Fake News.”
Prior to the controversy, the account posted a video with footage of burning police cars, accompanied by the caption: “The mission in Los Angeles isn’t about lethality. It’s about maintaining LAW AND ORDER.”
The mission in Los Angeles isn’t about lethality.
It’s about maintaining LAW AND ORDER… pic.twitter.com/0Q8cwKpHLr
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 13, 2025
Snopes’ analysis revealed that the LAPD car roof numbers (504 and 658) in the video matched vehicles featured in NBC News coverage from May 31, 2020. In both the 2020 and 2025 videos, car 504 is shown with its hood open, while car 658 is engulfed in flames.
Further investigation by Snopes uncovered additional instances of doctored and misleading images and videos circulating on social media, falsely representing recent protests in Los Angeles.
One video, with over 2 million views, purportedly showed “Low IQ Illegal Aliens” setting themselves on fire after dousing a Jeep with gasoline. While the footage was authentic, it was taken in Los Angeles in March 2024 during an unrelated incident.
Another video falsely claimed to depict rioters attacking a shop owner in Los Angeles during the recent protests. This footage was actually captured at a 7-Eleven in Anaheim, California, in October 2024.
Escalating Tensions and Protest Aftermath
Since Trump’s deployment of the National Guard, some protests have turned violent, involving arson, vandalism, looting, and clashes with law enforcement. Reports indicate protesters set self-driving cars ablaze and hurled objects at police on a closed section of U.S. Highway 101. Several local businesses were reportedly looted and vandalized.
Despite these incidents, many protesters continue to demonstrate peacefully, and critics argue that Trump’s assertive response has exacerbated tensions rather than alleviating them.
Social Media Reactions
Governor Newsom’s press office issued a warning on X: “Be careful out there on this hell site. Right-wing accounts are recycling old videos to justify their Dear Leader’s militarization of Los Angeles. Props to @snopes for calling it out.”
Looking Ahead
President Trump has warned that those protesting the military parade in Washington, D.C., will be met with “very heavy force.” With widespread protests anticipated nationwide, authorities in various cities are increasing security measures in preparation for large gatherings.