Vice President JD Vance visited Los Angeles on Friday, June 20, but Gov. Gavin Newsom wanted the focus of the trip to be on wildfire devastation rather than immigration.
In a video message ahead of the vice president’s trip, the Democratic governor implored Vance to meet with victims from the deadly January fires that devastated communities in Altadena and the Palisades. Newsom also asked Vance to lobby President Donald Trump, on behalf of Californians, for the federal disaster relief aid Newsom requested in February.
“It’s also important … that you sit down with the president of the United States, who just a couple of days ago suggested that these American citizens may not get the support that other citizens get all across this country in terms of disaster relief,” Newsom said. “I hope we get that back on track.”
“We’re counting on you, Mr. Vice President,” the governor said.
I just read JD Vance is coming into town. pic.twitter.com/mPUjgoE4uC
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 20, 2025
Trump, earlier this week, hinted that disaster relief to aid in the aftermath of the January fires could be in jeopardy amid his reignited feud with Newsom over the federal government’s ramped-up immigration enforcement actions in California and the subsequent mass protests that have broken out since.
As of Friday afternoon, the governor did not have immediate plans to visit with Vance while he’s in the Golden State, said Brandon Richards, a spokesperson for the governor’s office.
“The governor would welcome the opportunity to meet with the vice president in service to Californians. We’re always open to working together — which makes it all the more disappointing that the White House chose not to engage with us directly ahead of the visit,” Richards said.
“We’ve yet to receive any official notice of the vice president’s trip — which, from what we understand, is focused on a high-dollar fundraiser,” he added.
Not many details had been released about Vance’s trip by the vice president’s office.
Ultimately, Vance toured a multi-agency federal joint operations center and a federal mobile command center, met with leadership and Marines, and delivered remarks. They were directed at the immigration situation.
Ultimately, Vance vowed a continued military presence in the area, despite acknowledging the “rioting has gotten a lot better” in recent days.
Speaking to reporters following his tour, Vance lambasted Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, accusing them of having “actively encouraged illegal migration into this community, strained public services (and) strained law enforcement.”
“What a great American city L.A. is, and what a great tragedy it is that we’ve allowed illegal immigration and rioting to destroy one of the great gems of the American family,” Vance said.
When asked if he thought the Trump administration had been too aggressive with its immigration enforcement efforts, Vance said no.
Still, there was a glimmer of local hope that Vance would direct some attention toward the wildfires and the area’s recovery.
Victoria Knapp, chair of the Altadena Town Council, said she hoped Vance would witness, while in the L.A. area, the “actual degree of devastation” from the fires and convince the president to approve disaster aid.
“Altadenans would be ready to meet with Vice President J.D. Vance as we have every other official who has promised their advocacy and assistance,” Knapp said.
Staff writer Steve Scauzillo contributed to this report.
