The riots are inflicting chaos, injury, death, and even more economic misery on businesses across the country. How has the nation’s chief executive responded?
With inane tweets such as “FAKE NEWS” and “LAW & ORDER,” attacking governors — “most of you are weak” — and by taking solace in his favorite television show, Fox and Friends. This is not leadership. It is ludicrousness.
True, many governors and mayors have handled the riots inadequately. Their early effort to cool tensions by directing police to allow looting only fueled the rioters’ sense of possibility. That sense has now reached a critical mass, which will be harder to drain. President Trump was right that the riots should have been handled more forcefully sooner. In equal measure, the president’s early, halting statements of sympathy and concern over George Floyd’s fate offered him a stepping stone to reach out to the public. Unfortunately, he didn’t take the steps.
Rather than trying to unify politicians and citizens under a common cause, Trump has resorted to partisan bickering. Yes, I realize that some Democrats are doing much the same, but Trump is the president of the United States. In moments of crisis, the president is supposed to stand apart. Think about George W. Bush in that first week following the 9/11 attacks.
There are great political risks for the president here.
Trump was elected in significant part on the strength of his law-and-order narrative. The president promised to secure the border, take tough action against criminal gangs, and stand up resolutely for American interests. Amid these riots, Trump is certainly failing on the two latter counts.
But why? Why isn’t Trump doing symbolic but simple things? Why not address the nation? Why not visit business owners who have lost near everything? Why not invite protesters and police officers to a summit?
Some might suggest it’s because Trump believes his reelection interests are served by letting the riots continue. The problem with this argument is that Trump clearly sees the political risks here. His most recent tweets are focused on reassuring himself over polls and blaming Democrats and the media for the riots. In essence, he is trying to deflect any criticism of his own response.
That speaks to another point. The hesitation with which some Democrats and some in the media responded to the early outbreak of violence last week should have motivated Trump to take the distinct, opposite stand. Trump is an extraordinarily savvy politician. He should have sensed his opportunity to draw a clear contrast. Instead, by sticking to tweets, Trump stuck to the sidelines.
This is not to say the president has any magic wands he can wave to resolve this crisis. The deployment of active-duty soldiers onto the streets would be fraught with risk. Our system of government ultimately affords much more power to local authorities to resolve this crisis. Ultimately, the riots will only die out as more arrests are made and charges brought. But until then, many people will be living in fear. Trump’s bristling self-confidence would be a useful antidote to that fear.
But first, the president needs to offer it to America.
