President Trump promised to use the power of the military to intervene against rioting if states fail to take a more aggressive action to control them.
On Saturday, Trump demanded that liberal governors and mayors use “much tougher” enforcement to stop rioters to allow and ensure peaceful protests following the death of George Floyd, threatening the “unlimited power” of the military.
“Crossing State lines to incite violence is a FEDERAL CRIME! Liberal Governors and Mayors must get MUCH tougher or the Federal Government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests. Thank you!”
Crossing State lines to incite violence is a FEDERAL CRIME! Liberal Governors and Mayors must get MUCH tougher or the Federal Government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
Protests began after Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was arrested by four officers on Monday after a grocery store sent a call that one customer was attempting to purchase items with a forged bill. Video released Thursday appears to show three officers pinning him down.
Derek Chauvin, an officer seen on video pinning Floyd by the neck, has since been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter after Floyd was later pronounced dead in the hospital. Chauvin and three officers, all of whom have been fired from their positions, pinned Floyd down on the ground for approximately nine minutes. Floyd is seen unresponsive for over two minutes.
Protests began on Tuesday in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but have since devolved into nationwide, crime-ridden riots, with many private businesses being looted, buildings being set ablaze, and several people being shot.
As the riots have become more violent, Minnesota state authorities report that those arrested are neither residents of the cities where the riots took place, nor reside within the state. However, Attorney General William Barr said on Saturday that “anarchic” and “far-left extremist groups” could potentially be those responsible for the growing violence.
Trump has consistently decried the violence seen in the riots, calling those committing arson, burglary, and other crimes “thugs.”
“I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right,” Trump tweeted early Friday morning.
“These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!” he said.
