Traci Park thanks Trump for "supporting police" shortly after he pardons January 6th rioters

In a stunning display of political opportunism and hypocrisy, Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park recently thanked former President Donald Trump for his so-called “support” of law enforcement—just days after Trump issued pardons to every one of the 1,600 rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Among those pardoned were individuals who brutally assaulted police officers, leaving many injured and some with life-altering trauma.

Former Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, who suffered severe injuries defending democracy that day, called out Trump’s betrayal, saying, “The law and order dude is about to pardon those who assaulted the police.” Another officer, Michael Fanone, who was viciously beaten and tased by rioters, called Trump’s move a “monopoly on hypocrisy.”

Yet, none of this stopped Traci Park from publicly cozying up to Trump in an awkward roundtable discussion following the Palisades fire. Instead of standing with the officers who put their lives on the line, Park chose to express gratitude to a man who turned his back on law enforcement the moment it suited his political ambitions.

This is not just an embarrassment for Los Angeles—it’s a dangerous precedent. Park’s willingness to align herself with Trump in the wake of such an egregious betrayal of law enforcement officers is a clear indication of where her loyalties lie. For someone who claims to support public safety, her actions tell a very different story.

Adding to the reckless nature of her remarks, Park also agreed with Trump that people should be allowed back into the Palisades to sift through hazardous debris—despite the Army Corps of Engineers’ recommendation to wait at least 18 months for safety reasons. This reckless stance not only contradicts expert guidance but also puts residents in unnecessary danger, all in an effort to score political points.