A tense altercation erupted on live television between ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman and a Los Angeles Police Department officer Saturday as Gutman reported from the epicenter of ongoing ICE-related riots in downtown Los Angeles. The exchange, caught in real time during a broadcast on ABC News Live, has since gone viral, drawing attention to the rising friction between press and law enforcement amid nationwide unrest.
The confrontation occurred near a federal building that has become a focal point for over a week of protests and riots following federal immigration enforcement operations. In the video, an LAPD officer is seen confronting Gutman, accusing him of making physical contact with another officer during the tense situation.
“You touched my partner! Don’t touch my partner! I’m letting you know! Don’t touch him!” the officer shouted, before shoving Gutman backward on camera.
Gutman responded in real time, pointing out the moment was being captured live:
“You’re pushing me on live television,” Gutman said. “Tensions are extremely high here.”
A second LAPD officer joined in, reinforcing the warning and telling Gutman not to touch officers under any circumstances. Gutman, appearing rattled but composed, denied the claim:
“We clearly didn’t touch the officers.”
The officer fired back with certainty: “Yes you did!”
The live clash took place during the ninth straight day of protests in Los Angeles, many of which have turned violent. The unrest began in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation actions and has since spiraled into widespread riots, property destruction, and dozens of arrests.
Reporters and press crews have increasingly found themselves in the middle of the chaos. On Saturday, The Gateway Pundit reported that one of its journalists, Drew Schaffer, was shot with a rubber bullet and hit with a tear gas canister, despite clearly identifying as press with visible credentials.
“Though I identified as press and had my badges displayed, an officer still shot me with a rubber bullet,” Schaffer wrote. “They are targeting press.”
