A former top military official said he could no longer “remain silent” following the Trump administration’s response to the protests over George Floyd’s death.
Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said President Trump’s use of the military to help quell protests in front of the White House so he could walk to a nearby church crossed a line.
“I have to date been reticent to speak out on issues surrounding President Trump’s leadership, but we are at an inflection point, and the events of the past few weeks have made it impossible to remain silent,” Mullen wrote in the Atlantic on Tuesday.
Law enforcement forcibly dispersed protesters in Lafayette Park ahead of the city’s 7 p.m. curfew on Monday. U.S. Park Police denied using tear gas on protesters, but reporters covering the demonstrations disputed the claim, noting that the nonlethal weapons made breathing difficult and irritated eyes. Park Police said such measures were used because protesters were violent, though news reports said the protest was peaceful before law enforcement acted.
Trump has also threatened to use military force to counter protests across the United States.
“Whatever Trump’s goal in conducting his visit, he laid bare his disdain for the rights of peaceful protest in this country, gave succor to the leaders of other countries who take comfort in our domestic strife, and risked further politicizing the men and women of our armed forces,” wrote Mullen, who was chairman from 2007 until 2011.
“I remain confident in the professionalism of our men and women in uniform. They will serve with skill and with compassion. They will obey lawful orders. But I am less confident in the soundness of the orders they will be given by this commander in chief, and I am not convinced that the conditions on our streets, as bad as they are, have risen to the level that justifies a heavy reliance on military troops,” Mullen continued. “Furthermore, I am deeply worried that as they execute their orders, the members of our military will be co-opted for political purposes.”
