Key Point Summary – LA Sheriff Deletes Iran Post
- LA Sheriff’s Department called U.S. Iran airstrikes “tragic” in a now-deleted post
- Post sent condolences to victims and sparked immediate online backlash
- Critics accused the department of sympathizing with a hostile regime
- Statement later apologized, saying the post was “unacceptable”
- Internal review launched to investigate how the message was published
Sheriff’s Department Slammed for Post on Iran Strikes
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department sparked national outrage over the weekend after posting — and then deleting — a message calling U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities “tragic.”
The controversial post appeared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday and read:
“Our hearts go out to the victims and families impacted by the recent bombings in Iran… While this tragic event happened overseas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is closely monitoring the situation alongside our local, state and federal partners.”
It didn’t take long for backlash to erupt.
Condolences Trigger Outrage
Within minutes, users swarmed the post, slamming the department for what many saw as a grossly misguided response to a high-stakes U.S. military operation. Critics emphasized that the airstrikes were specifically targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, not civilians.
“We sincerely hope your account was hacked,” posted Stop Antisemitism. “There were no victims in last night’s successful targeting of Iran’s nuclear sites.”
Other users were more direct, demanding accountability.
“It is shocking that the LA Sheriff Department employs someone who would post such messages,” one wrote. “That individual should be fired immediately.”
Accusations of Political Bias
The reaction online went beyond criticism — many accused the Sheriff’s Department of taking a political stance on foreign policy, something law enforcement agencies typically avoid.
“Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna should resign in disgrace,” one user declared. “Shame on him!”
Another added, “This is the CRAZIEST reaction to President Trump delivering MONUMENTAL devastation to Iran’s nuclear sites.”
Post Quietly Edited, Then Removed
Initially, the department appeared to revise the post, reportedly removing the words “tragic” and “victims.” But before long, the entire message was deleted from the department’s account.
However, screenshots had already circulated widely, shared by independent journalist Collin Rugg and conservative account Libs of TikTok. The damage had already been done.
Department Issues Full Apology
Later that evening, the Sheriff’s Department released a formal statement apologizing for the post and distancing itself from the sentiment.
“We are issuing this statement to formally apologize for an offensive and inappropriate social media post recently posted on our Department’s social media platforms regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran,” the statement read.
They added that the post was “made in error” and did not represent the views of Sheriff Robert G. Luna or the department as a whole.
Internal Review Now Underway
To contain the fallout, the department also announced the launch of an internal review. Officials will investigate who created and published the message, and why it wasn’t caught before going live.
“Steps are being taken to strengthen our social media oversight protocols,” the statement added, “to ensure future communications align with our Department’s standards of professionalism, respect, and accountability.”
Trying to Regain Public Trust
The department closed its statement with a plea for understanding, saying, “We appreciate the continued trust of our community and will work diligently to reaffirm that trust every day.”
Despite the apology, the incident has already ignited a firestorm that may linger. Critics say the message revealed deeper issues about political sensitivities within public agencies.
As the U.S. continues to face complex foreign threats, many are calling for tighter controls on official communications, especially those with global implications.
