Donald Trump Jr is under fire after posting a meme suggesting that violent protesters in Los Angeles should be shot from rooftops.
The meme, shared on X (formerly Twitter), showed a Korean-American man on a rooftop with a rifle, referencing the 1992 LA riots. That year, after four LAPD officers were acquitted for the brutal beating of Rodney King—a Black man caught on video—widespread chaos erupted.
Korean-American business owners, abandoned by law enforcement, took up arms to defend their shops from looters. The image has since become a symbol of armed self-defense, but also stirred controversy for stoking racial tensions.
Trump Jr shared the photo without comment, but the message was clear. In the context of this weekend’s unrest in LA, the post was seen by many as a call to respond to protesters with bullets.
Protests broke out in LA after federal immigration agents attempted to arrest undocumented immigrants on Friday. Crowds flooded the streets, blocking ICE vans, chanting “Shame on you!” and clashing with officers. Some lit vehicles on fire and hurled fireworks at law enforcement. In response, police used tear gas and flashbangs.
Despite the chaos, Homeland Security says 118 suspected undocumented immigrants have been detained in LA County so far.
President Trump responded by deploying the California National Guard. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom immediately slammed the move as illegal and politically motivated.
“These are the acts of a dictator, not a president,” Newsom said. He accused Trump of trying to “manufacture a crisis” to distract from his political problems. The governor even dared the administration to arrest him, posting on X: “Come and get me, tough guy. I don’t give a damn. It won’t stop me from standing up for California.”
By Sunday, over 2,000 National Guard troops were in LA. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to send in the Marines if the chaos continues.
“We will not let this city burn,” he said.
So far, 39 protesters have been arrested over the weekend.
Critics say Trump Jr’s rooftop meme pours gasoline on an already dangerous fire. Others see it as a thinly veiled call for vigilante violence. He hasn’t responded to the backlash.
