Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) had the Metropolitan Detention Center door slammed in her face after she taunted armed agents amid the ongoing violent anti-ICE riots, asking if they planned to shoot her. According to video footage, Waters was seen hurrying past National Guardsmen at a government building on Sunday, demanding to see David Huerta, the SEIU union leader who was arrested during the protests. She claimed he was “targeted.”
“Hello, hello, hello," Waters said. “I just came to use my congressional authority to check on David Huerta.”
However, Waters was turned away by an armed agent, who informed her that the lobby was closed to all visitors. Undeterred, the Democrat insisted on being allowed in. As she tried to push through the door, the agent told her to “contact our public affairs office” before firmly shutting the door in her face.
“I don’t know whether they are going to deport him. I want to report back to my caucus what is happening," she began.
Waters accused President Donald Trump of being a “cruel, dishonorable human being,” claiming he would “just as soon” see agents “shoot somebody down.” She then grew visibly angry, shouting at law enforcement officers and accusing them of allowing themselves to be unknowingly used as instruments of Trump’s agenda.
“This is Trump and his outrageous attempt to not only target our sanctuary city, but to frighten us and intimidate us. This is wrong, and I hope that none of you will use those guns to shoot anybody… and allow them to make your service a service when you're killing people,” Waters told the agents.
This is exactly how you should handle Maxine Waters. When she’s looking to exploit an ICE detention facility for a PR stunt, shut the door in her face. pic.twitter.com/fmtdW3Eclf
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 8, 2025
Later that day, during a CNN interview, Waters voiced concern that the weapons carried by National Guard troops could ultimately be used against the protesters.
“I don’t know why we have guns. What are those guns for? Are they to shoot protesters? I mean, there’s no reason to be here with the National Guard,” Waters said.
However, she failed to address the fact that the protests had turned violent, with thousands of demonstrators throwing rocks at law enforcement, physically confronting officers, and setting vehicles on fire. Still, she maintained that troops don’t need weapons to protect themselves.