LA Protesters Torch Waymo Cars with American Flags Over Deportations

Los Angeles protesters ignited Waymo's autonomous vehicles with American flags to protest recent deportations. The dramatic scenes prompted Waymo to halt downtown operations, citing safety concerns. President Trump authorized deploying 2,000 National Guard members to manage the unrest, escalating tensions.
The protests, centered in downtown Los Angeles, saw demonstrators smashing windows and setting fire to self-driving cars. Waymo confirmed five vehicles were affected and removed from service. The company stated it would suspend operations in the area, following guidance from local law enforcement.
Footage from the demonstrations showed spray-painted messages protesting ICE on Waymo vehicles, which emitted large plumes of black smoke and exploded intermittently as they burned.