Investor and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary didn’t hold back Wednesday when he described Los Angeles as a “war zone,” warning that the ongoing anti-ICE riots are inflicting lasting financial damage on small businesses already struggling to survive.
“If you’re a small business… and you see these images of windows being smashed, cars burnt, baseball bats on someone’s property, this is not good management of a state, obviously,” O’Leary said during an appearance on Varney & Co.
As protests rage across the city, store owners say the damage is far deeper than broken glass.
‘Nobody Is Going to Shop There’
O’Leary, the chairman of O’Leary Ventures, emphasized the unseen cost: customer fear.
“I’m not going down there to buy anything, nobody is,” O’Leary said flatly.
“So your business is massively disrupted, even if they haven’t smashed your windows. And that may take a long time to recover from if you’re a dry cleaner, if you are a restaurant, if you are an auto repair company. It’s a war zone.”
Footage from the riots paints a grim picture: flaming vehicles, shattered storefronts, and violent clashes with police. What started last Friday has yet to lose steam, and frustration is boiling over.
Trump Sends in Troops, Newsom Pushes Back
In a high-stakes response, former President Donald Trump ordered 4,000 National Guard troops and an additional 700 U.S. Marines into Los Angeles in a bid to stabilize the city. But not everyone welcomed the move.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass were quick to denounce the federal deployment. Newsom blasted it as a “brazen abuse of power” and claimed the military response only escalated tensions.
While Newsom vowed that violent demonstrators “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he also made it clear he believes Trump’s involvement is doing more harm than good.
‘Look in the Mirror’: O’Leary Blames California Leadership
When pressed on whether Trump or Newsom is “winning” the political battle, O’Leary sidestepped the horse race and pointed squarely at the people suffering.
“The people of California [are losing]. They should really look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘What the hell are we doing?’ I’m here, and I’m looking outside saying, ‘This is not the L.A. I knew 20 years ago. It just isn’t.'”
His remarks echoed the mounting disillusionment many Californians feel as riots, mismanagement, and political finger-pointing take center stage over economic recovery.
Small Businesses Left in the Crossfire
From family-owned dry cleaners to local auto shops and businesses are paying the price, whether or not their storefronts were looted. Many owners fear they’ll never regain the customer confidence needed to bounce back.
The visual of chaos, O’Leary warns, is enough to drive patrons away for good. “This is not sustainable,” he implied, noting that small businesses form the backbone of the local economy. When they fall, entire communities follow.
Lawlessness vs. Livelihoods
While politicians spar over federal authority, thousands of small businesses are left with broken windows, empty cash registers and no clear path forward. For now, many owners are left wondering who, if anyone, is truly looking out for them.
As the smoke clears over Los Angeles, one thing remains painfully clear: restoring trust may take far longer than cleaning up the glass.
