Speaking from the White House Rose Garden on Monday, US President Donald Trump referred to the ongoing protests and riots across the nation in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis as “domestic acts of terror” and threatened to deploy the military “which would dominate the streets” to quell civil unrest.
As tensions flare up nationwide, Trump has come under pressure to demonstrate a modicum of leadership to unite a nation so deeply fractured across political, racial, and ideological lines. However, unsurprisingly, the President did none of that, and instead focused his speech on cracking down on the “professional anarchists, violent mobs, or, arsonists, looters, criminals, rider rioters, Antifa and others”, whose actions have “gripped” America. Though he briefly mentioned Floyd in his statement, he made no comments on police brutality or racial injustice in the country.
In fact, in true Trumpian fashion, he prioritized a photo-op and appealing solely to his political base, rather than sending a unifying and calming message to an enraged nation. In an effort to paint himself as a military strongman, he said: “I am taking immediate presidential action to stop the violence and restore security and safety in America. I am immobilizing all federal resources, civilian and military to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson, and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your second amendment rights. Therefore, the following measures are going into effect immediately”.
As law enforcement officials used teargas, flashbangs, and rubber bullets to chase away peaceful demonstrators from outside the White House, Trump referred to himself as the country’s “President of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters”.
The protesters were cleared to make way for Trump to walk across Lafayette Park to St. John’s Episcopal Church with senior White House officials including National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, Attorney General Bill Barr, senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, chief of staff Mark Meadows, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. He made brief remarks there, saying “we have the greatest country in the world,” and held up the Bible for a photo. The President did not take any questions.
According to CNN, there were heated debates among Trump’s top advisors on Sunday, over how and whether he could address the protests unfolding across the nation. After reports emerged of him being rushed to an underground White House bunker as demonstrations neared the White House, Trump told aides that he wanted to be seen outside the White House, which in part led to the decision to get a photo outside St. John’s Church.
Image Source: Axios
Trump Threatens Military Force to Quell “Domestic Acts of Terror”
June 2, 2020
