“The reality is stark”: Mel Gibson criticizes Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom on the rioting

In early June 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted aggressive operations that led to a lot of riots, with Los Angeles being the main place of their occurrence. There were riots, looting, and fights with police that occurred after nonviolent rallies against federal immigration operations.

President Trump authorized the deployment of 7,000 U.S. Marines and 4,000 National Guard soldiers to California without Governor Gavin Newsom's permission. This was the first time the federal government had assumed control of California's National Guard. This led to legal challenges and fierce discussion about leadership.

Mel Gibson criticizes Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom on the rioting: more details

Mel Gibson, 69, earned Oscars for directing and acting in movies including Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ. Gibson, who had lived in California his entire life, felt even more connected to the state's problems after his home in Pacific Palisades burned down in January 2025.

He went from being a well-known Hollywood actor to a vocal opponent of the state's administration when he tried to have Governor Newsom fired for the "gross mismanagement" of the wildfire response.

The chaos in Los Angeles began on June 6, 2025, when ICE invaded many areas at once. At first, the protesters were peaceful, but things rapidly turned violent as they battled with police, burned vehicles, and stole from businesses.

Authorities in the region declared parts of downtown to be an unlawful gathering and put curfews in place. As tensions grew, President Trump dispatched hundreds of National Guard and Marines into the city. This made officials in California very angry.

On Raymond Arroyo's show, Arroyo Grande, Mel Gibson was rather straightforward while talking about Newsom and Bass. He said, "It's never been more clear" that they are "unable to respond effectively and responsibly during calamity" because of "rampant lawlessness and civil unrest." He also claimed that they had,

"already proven their incompetence and poor leadership during the Los Angeles wildfires."

He also added,

"whether it's sheer incompetence or outright malevolence, the reality is stark."

With this statement, Mel Gibson has urged the people of Los Angeles to demand a better government. As of mid-June, neither Governor Newsom's office nor Mayor Bass's office had explicitly replied to Gibson's most recent comments, even though they had strongly defended how they handled the protests.

Newsom filed a lawsuit to challenge the legality of the National Guard's federalization in an attempt to restore order. Bass also set and tightly enforced curfews in the areas that were affected. Their public statements denounced violence, supported the rights of immigrants, and stressed the need to find a balance between personal freedoms and public safety.

Mel Gibson's public criticism of California's governor and mayor shows how closely the state's political leaders are being watched throughout a lot of crises. Gibson sets up the conversation as one about competency vs. chaotic mismanagement by talking about both the recent wildfire losses and the chaos of violent protests.

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