President Trump’s brief speech Monday night about mobilizing force against rioters was only half right on substance, and mostly wrong on tone. Once again, he proved why he is exactly the wrong man to inhabit the White House in these times.
What was needed was a combination of toughness with compassion, of protection of the rule of law with commitment to reform where law has failed. Instead, Trump provided only toughness and protection, without compassion or reform. And, in tone, Trump was all about bluster, force, and anger, further rubbing raw the societal wounds on display for the past seven days. It was a dreadful performance.
Trump is absolutely right that violence must be quashed, that riots must be prevented and suppressed, and that innocent people and their property must be protected. The use of government power to protect the innocent is not just acceptable, but necessary.
Still, Trump did next to nothing to salve the wounds or to defuse tensions. Yes, he said that the killing of George Floyd was sickening, and he promised justice for it. Fine. That should have been the bare minimum. Even when he did that, it sounded almost perfunctory, and his voice sounded less than compassionate.
What was needed was an acknowledgment that some police forces have systemic problems with excessive use of force, and some show evidence of racial bias, and some do both. Trump needed to express sympathy for the righteous frustration and anger of black Americans, and of any others who have been victimized by police, even if he also made the good point that most police are heroes who serve their communities well.
Trump should have promised reforms, or at least reviews that might lead to reforms. How pervasive is implicit bias in law enforcement? Is it too hard to get rid of, or to send to desk jobs rather than street patrols, police officers who misbehave or who react poorly to street stress? Have police forces and the military gone too far in sending military equipment to domestic police? Are there too many no-knock warrants issued, and are there ways to defuse tensions, short of use of violent force, that are too little used?
Trump offered no substance along these lines, and his rhetoric was dreadful. Then, he made matters worse by insisting on crossing the street to St. John’s Church for a photo op — a made-for-TV moment that was made possible only by the prior use of tear gas against protesters who had been entirely peaceful.
This nation needs calming leadership. We have instead an arsonist of anger.
This man in the White House is a disaster and a disgrace.
