Jimmy Kimmel asks if business owners credit Trump for troop deployment

Kimmel exposes reality behind administration’s rhetoric

Jimmy Kimmel Live conducted a street survey revealing disconnect between Trump administration claims and actual business owner sentiments. The segment aired September 3, following Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s assertion about grateful businesses.

Kimmel’s team ventured into downtown LA to test these claims directly with local proprietors. Their informal poll yielded overwhelmingly negative responses contradicting official narratives.

Trump’s disputed restaurant revival narrative

President Trump repeatedly claimed his troop deployment revitalized restaurant scenes across multiple cities nationwide. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump stated friends now dine out multiple times weekly.

The president mentioned one acquaintance who said, “My wife and I went out to dinner last night for the first time in four years”. These anecdotal claims became central to administration justification for continued federal intervention.

OpenTable data contradicts official claims

Restaurant reservation data from OpenTable painted a starkly different picture of federal intervention’s actual impact. Washington DC reservations plummeted following National Guard deployment, falling 16 percent initially and 31 percent subsequently.

This downturn occurred despite Trump’s assertions that restaurants were “busier than ever” following military presence. The data directly challenged administration claims about economic benefits from enhanced security.

Kimmel’s downtown survey reveals widespread business skepticism

The Jimmy Kimmel Live production team conducted impromptu interviews with downtown Los Angeles business owners. Their informal polling revealed overwhelmingly negative sentiment toward the federal military presence and intervention.

Business owners expressed frustration with federal presence, with one noting sales were “fifty percent down.” Another proprietor simply responded “absolutely not” when asked about thanking Trump for deployments.

Federal judge rules military deployment completely illegal

US District Judge Charles Breyer ruled Trump’s military deployment in Los Angeles violated established federal law. The judge determined administration systematically employed armed personnel violating the Posse Comitatus Act.

This nineteenth-century statute typically prohibits military involvement in domestic law enforcement activities across states. The ruling represented a significant legal challenge to administration deployment policies.

Homeland Security Secretary’s controversial statements

Kristi Noem made dramatic claims about federal intervention necessity during her CBS appearance. She asserted Los Angeles “wouldn’t be standing today” without Trump’s decisive military action.

Noem specifically cited grateful “small business owners in downtown LA” supporting the deployment. These statements drew widespread ridicule, including sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office.

Restaurant industry struggles significantly

Washington DC restaurant owners reported devastating challenges following the federal takeover of local security. Chef Rock Harper says, “It’s very shocking to an American.”

The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington noted members struggling with the militarized atmosphere. Many establishments reported revenue falling from typical nightly amounts to mere hundreds of dollars.

Administration cites arrest statistics as primary deployment justification

The Trump administration pointed to enforcement statistics justifying the controversial military deployments nationwide. Officials cited thousands of arrests and removals across targeted metropolitan areas.

Noem specifically mentioned “five thousand dangerous illegal criminals” removed from Los Angeles during operations. However, critics argued these numbers didn’t justify extensive military presence in civilian areas.

Mixed reception emerges from broader business community

While Kimmel’s survey showed predominantly negative responses, broader business community reaction remained notably complex. Some establishments reported minimal immediate impact from the federal military intervention.

Others described devastating effects on customer confidence and foot traffic throughout downtown areas. The presence of uniformed personnel created what many described as an atmosphere of unease.

Historical precedent raises serious constitutional concerns

Legal experts noted the rarity of such extensive federal intervention in local policing matters. The deployment represented one of the most aggressive federal actions in recent decades.

Constitutional scholars raised concerns about precedent-setting aspects of military involvement in civilian law enforcement. This occurred despite crime statistics showing violent crime at thirty-year lows in targeted cities.

Economic impact devastates local hospitality sector

The restaurant industry faced particular challenges during what is typically a slow summer season. Washington DC’s Restaurant Week featured record participation but struggled with customer hesitation.

Some venues reported booking numbers significantly lower than previous years despite promotional pricing efforts. The hospitality sector demonstrated both vulnerability to political decisions and remarkable resilience.

Late-night comedy serves as important political fact-checking venue

Kimmel’s segment exemplified how late-night television continues serving as political fact-checking platform. The comedian’s street-level journalism approach provided counternarrative to official administration claims.

This type of citizen journalism has become increasingly common in contemporary political discourse. Comedy shows now regularly challenge government statements through direct community engagement and reporting.

Federal court provides extensive documentation of military overreach

Judge Breyer’s 52-page ruling provided detailed documentation of systematic military overreach in civilian areas. The court found troops engaged in traffic control and crowd management exceeding authorized scope.

The judge temporarily suspended his ruling until September 12, allowing time for potential appeals. This legal challenge highlighted ongoing tensions between federal authority and local jurisdiction rights.

Broader implications reshape federal-state relations

The deployments raised fundamental questions about balance between federal authority and state sovereignty. California officials filed lawsuits challenging extent of federal intervention in local matters.

Administration supporters argued for necessary law enforcement enhancement despite constitutional concerns from legal experts. These legal battles continued unfolding as communities grappled with practical impacts.

Future federal intervention policies face uncertain legal landscape

The legal ruling and public reaction may significantly influence future deployment decisions nationwide. Chicago and other metropolitan areas faced similar threats of federal intervention.

The Los Angeles and Washington DC experiences became potentially precedent-setting for other cities. The balance between public safety claims and constitutional limitations remained subject of ongoing debate.

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Community voices challenge official narratives

Kimmel’s street-level reporting revealed stark contrast between administration claims and actual business owner sentiment. The segment demonstrated power of direct community engagement in challenging political narratives.

Local proprietors consistently contradicted official statements about gratitude for federal intervention and military presence. Their responses highlighted disconnect between political messaging and ground-level economic reality.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and with human editing.