Vance says National Guard troops are still 'necessary' in Los Angeles

Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that the National Guard troops and Marines deployed to Los Angeles earlier this month are still needed there.

President Donald Trump has sent about 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to protect federal property and personnel amid anti-ICE protests.

This week, an appeals court ruled that Trump would be able to maintain control of the California National Guard, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., publicly criticizing the decision to send them to the city.

"Unfortunately, the soldiers and Marines are still very much a necessary part of what's going on here because they're worried that it's going to flare back up," Vance said in Los Angeles on Friday.

At one point of his visit, Vance referred to Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., as "José." Padilla recently interrupted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference and was detained.

"I was hoping José Padilla would be here to ask a question, but unfortunately, I guess he decided not to show up because there wasn't the theater," Vance said.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Vance disrespected Padilla. 

"You don't know his name? But yet you served with him before you were vice president, and you continue to serve with him today. Because last time I checked, the vice president of the United States is the president of the Senate. You serve with him today, but how dare you disrespect him and call him José. But I guess he just looked like anybody to you," she said at a news conference.