President Trump said he can understand if some statues are decommissioned through a legal process and moved to museums.
During a Fox News town hall with host Sean Hannity, Trump defended statues of President Abraham Lincoln, which some activists have targeted among those they wish to tear down, but said he can “see controversy” and would be open to a legal process of decommissioning certain controversial monuments, though he did not specify which statue or memorial that would be.
“We can take things down too. I can understand certain things being taken down, but they ought to go through a process legally. And then we take it down and, [in] some cases, put them in museums or wherever they may go, but these are really rioters, and [there’s] a lot of bad people involved,” Trump said.
Trump began his comments by defending statues of Lincoln, which some activists have targeted as part of their plans to tear down various monuments that pay tribute to historical figures.
On Tuesday, Trump said he authorized the government to arrest those who vandalize or destroy statues and that those guilty would face up to 10 years in prison.
“I have authorized the Federal Government to arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such Federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent,” Trump said in a Twitter thread. “This action is taken effective immediately, but may also be used retroactively for destruction or vandalism already caused,” he added. “There will be no exceptions!”
Trump also stated his opposition to renaming Army bases named after Confederate war generals earlier this month, writing his administration will “not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations.”
“These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage,” the president said on Twitter.
During a Wednesday press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Rose Garden, Trump said he wouldn’t tolerate the destruction of statues depicting Jesus Christ, the Founding Fathers, and others as long as he was in office.
“I think many of the people that are knocking down these statues don’t even have any idea what the statue is, what it means, who it is,” Trump said. “Now, they’re looking at Jesus Christ. They’re looking at George Washington. They’re looking at Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson. Not gonna happen. Not gonna happen. Not as long as I’m here.”
