Trump wanted to deploy 10,000 troops in Washington D.C., official says

[webfact]

Trump wanted to deploy 10,000 troops in Washington D.C., official says

By Phil Stewart

 

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine, U.S., June 5, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told his advisors at one point this past week he wanted 10,000 troops to deploy to the Washington D.C. area to halt civil unrest over the killing of a black man by Minneapolis police, according to a senior U.S. official.

 

The account of Trump's demand during a heated Oval Office conversation on Monday shows how close the president may have come to fulfilling his threat to deploy active duty troops, despite opposition from Pentagon leadership.

 

At the meeting, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, and Attorney General William Barr recommended against such a deployment, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The meeting was "contentious," the official added.

 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Trump has since appeared satisfied with deployments by the National Guard, the option recommended by the Pentagon and a more traditional tool for dealing with domestic crises. Pentagon leaders scrambled to call governors with requests to send Guard forces to Washington. Additional federal law enforcement were mobilized too.

 

But also key for Trump appears to have been Esper's move to preposition -- but not deploy -- active duty soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and other units in the Washington D.C. area. Those troops have since departed.

 

"Having active duty forces available but not in the city was enough for the president for the time," the official said.

 

Barr told CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday that no active duty troops were deployed on Washington streets, but there were some military police nearby.

 

"We had them on standby in case they were needed," Barr said.

 

Trump's bid to militarize the U.S. response to the protests has triggered a rare outpouring of condemnation from former U.S. military officials, including Trump's first defense secretary, Jim Mattis, and retired four-star generals who normally try to steer clear of politics.

 

Those comments reflect deep unease inside and outside the Pentagon with Trump's willingness to inject the U.S. military into a domestic race relations crisis following the killing of George Floyd, 46, who died on May 25 after a Minneapolis policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

 

Floyd's death has led to a wave of protests and national soul-searching over the country's legacy of violence and mistreatment of African Americans and other minorities.

 

It has also led some Pentagon leaders of color to issue unprecedented statements https://bit.ly/30mxTlD about their experiences dealing with issues of race in the U.S. military.

 

ESPER'S FUTURE?

Esper publicly voiced his opposition on Wednesday to invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy active duty forces -- remarks to reporters that did not go over well with either Trump or his top aides.

 

The senior U.S. official said Trump yelled at Esper after that news conference.

 

As speculation swirled over whether the president might fire him, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said Trump "remains confident in Secretary Esper."

 

"Secretary Esper has been instrumental in securing our nation's streets and ensuring Americans have peace and confidence in the security of their places of business, places of worship, and their homes," McEnany said in a statement.

 

Esper issued a memo on Tuesday reminding Defense Department personnel "we commit to protecting the American people's right to freedom of speech and to peaceful assembly."

 

Milley issued a similar statement reminding troops of their oath to the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to peaceful protests.

 

Those statements by Milley and Esper came after they took fierce criticism for using military planning terms like "battlespace" to describe American protest sites during a conference call with state governors that Trump hosted on Monday, a recording of which leaked.

 

At the time, the Pentagon was concerned that Trump might deploy active duty troops if the governors did not sufficiently employ the National Guard, the official said.

 

Esper and Milley have also faced criticism for accompanying Trump for a photo opportunity outside a church near the White House on Monday after police cleared the area by firing smoke grenades and chemical irritant "pepper balls" and charging into peaceful protesters.

 

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Additional reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-08

 

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[Thailand]

When you are in a hole stop digging comes to mind.

 

His staff must have nightmares about what he will try to do next.

 

 

[kingdong]

22 minutes ago, Thailand said:

When you are in a hole stop digging comes to mind.

 

His staff must have nightmares about what he will try to do next.

 

 

Restore law and order?

[DoctorG]

A robust discussion. Nothing wrong with that. Shows that the advisors are not just yes-men.

[steven100]

These protests will spread COVID-19 like wild fire.  The same protests took place in Australia & the UK over the weekend.

If they all catch the virus and get sick then it's their own fault.  They are putting everyone's lives at risk.

Irresponsible stupidity ......

 

Restore law & order. Send in the troops. 

 

[Tug]

2 hours ago, kingdong said:

Restore law and order?

Ahhh it’s called the first amendment there was very little rioting nothing like watts or Rodney king nothing on that scale 99% peaceful world wide trumps just trying to act tough the photo of the (unidentifiable) troops on the Lincoln memorial to me as an American is horrifing especially with trumps sucking up tp dictators and totally unessary the dudes toast imo come on November!!!enouf allready 

[Chomper Higgot]

13 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

A robust discussion. Nothing wrong with that. Shows that the advisors are not just yes-men.

He’s the ‘Commander in Chief’, or at least that’s what it says on the job description.

 

The military have refused to follow his orders and they have done so for sound legally and constitutionally founded reasons.

 

Trump isn’t fit for office.

 

Be thankful the military understand that.

[steven100]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

He’s the ‘Commander in Chief’, or at least that’s what it says on the job description.

 

The military have refused to follow his orders and they have done so for sound legally and constitutionally founded reasons.

 

Trump isn’t fit for office.

 

Be thankful the military understand that.

so you feel it's ok for those irresponsible protesters to go out and spread COVID19 everywhere as though they don't care about anyone's health.  And cause trouble as well ....  

[tribalfusion001]

10 minutes ago, steven100 said:

These protests will spread COVID-19 like wild fire.  The same protests took place in Australia & the UK over the weekend.

If they all catch the virus and get sick then it's their own fault.  They are putting everyone's lives at risk.

Irresponsible stupidity ......

 

Restore law & order. Send in the troops. 

 

They are spreading as fast as the virus did, it's stage 2 - the reaction, first was the problem.

[worgeordie]

Ordering the military onto the streets to deal with protesters

is what tinpot dictators of banana republics do,it's a good job

his advisors were able to rein him in,thats a job for the police.

 

When he loses the next election,they are going to have a job

getting him out of the White house,he will be saying the election

was fixed,and not fair,and he has the backing of the Police,army

and the bikers, and he is staying,God help America.

regards worgeordie

[transam]

5 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Ordering the military onto the streets to deal with protesters

is what tinpot dictators of banana republics do,it's a good job

his advisors were able to rein him in,thats a job for the police.

 

When he loses the next election,they are going to have a job

getting him out of the White house,he will be saying the election

was fixed,and not fair,and he has the backing of the Police,army

and the bikers, and he is staying,God help America.

regards worgeordie

So what happens if there are not enough police numbers, plus police will be taken away from the job they normally do......?

[DoctorG]

14 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

He’s the ‘Commander in Chief’, or at least that’s what it says on the job description.

 

The military have refused to follow his orders and they have done so for sound legally and constitutionally founded reasons.

 

Trump isn’t fit for office.

 

Be thankful the military understand that.

Make up your minds. Either he is a dictator or he isn't. 

You say they refused to follow his orders. Were you in the room? He wanted to do something, and they talked him out of it.

 

[vogie]

I think people are very kind calling these thugs demonstrators, they're no such thing, they are rioters and should be treated as people breaking the law and not watched by the police while they do so. 

[Chomper Higgot]

53 minutes ago, steven100 said:

so you feel it's ok for those irresponsible protesters to go out and spread COVID19 everywhere as though they don't care about anyone's health.  And cause trouble as well ....  

First Amendment trumps your outrage.

 

Pun intended.

[steven100]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

First Amendment trumps your outrage.

 

Pun intended.

Responsible common sense trumps your comment.

 

Pun intended.

[TKDfella]

It is always a difficult situation when the violent troublemakers intermingle with the genuine protesters. Having been involved in similar situations many years ago I know how the genuine people feel when they get stuck in the middle. I always sought to distance from an violent mob but that is easier said than done. I would agree with Pres. Trump's advisers that it would not be wise to send in 10,000 troops as that might inflame the situation more...and it might be just what ANTIFA and others want.

[Siamjim]

if this virus is as dangerous as stated then Darwin theory would be very bad for those.

 

[JCauto]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

so you feel it's ok for those irresponsible protesters to go out and spread COVID19 everywhere as though they don't care about anyone's health.  And cause trouble as well ....  

I think people (at least in the USA) have an inalienable right to protest and they feel that there is no point in being healthy inside of a sick society. Some issues are more important than just surviving, and we should be grateful for those who are willing to fight for democracy. Some people just don't like the taste of boot polish and will risk danger for their rights.

You, on the other hand, probably have boot polish flavoured toothpaste.

 

[steven100]

4 minutes ago, JCauto said:

I think people (at least in the USA) have an inalienable right to protest and they feel that there is no point in being healthy

well good for them ....  just goes to show they care less about their health and others than first thought.

wouldn't it be terrible if they did catch the virus .... and then they will be looking to blame Trump or whoever they can. It's a shame common sense has gone out the window ....  

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, DoctorG said:

Make up your minds. Either he is a dictator or he isn't. 

You say they refused to follow his orders. Were you in the room? He wanted to do something, and they talked him out of it.

 

Read the OP

[transam]

45 minutes ago, JCauto said:

I think people (at least in the USA) have an inalienable right to protest and they feel that there is no point in being healthy inside of a sick society. Some issues are more important than just surviving, and we should be grateful for those who are willing to fight for democracy. Some people just don't like the taste of boot polish and will risk danger for their rights.

You, on the other hand, probably have boot polish flavoured toothpaste.

 

What a load.....................????

[metisdead]

A troll post has been removed. 

[rvaviator]

2 hours ago, vogie said:

I think people are very kind calling these thugs demonstrators, they're no such thing, they are rioters and should be treated as people breaking the law and not watched by the police while they do so. 

Would you not agree that you have both ?

 

Demonstrators who act within the law

and

Agitators who are hellbent on looting and causing mayhem.

 

The issues then is .. what is the split between them 70 / 30 ?

 

Unfortunately, even if the split is 90/10 ... the 10% is all that people see and what is reported .. also the 10% can cause a lot of damage ...

 

What is the price of freedom and open democracy?

[rvaviator]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

well good for them ....  just goes to show they care less about their health and others than first thought.

wouldn't it be terrible if they did catch the virus .... and then they will be looking to blame Trump or whoever they can. It's a shame common sense has gone out the window ....  

 

5555  When did the average American ever care about health  ... Just see the size of the waist line... ????   The rioters look all young and fit ... Can not say that for all that I have seen

[vogie]

1 minute ago, rvaviator said:

Would you not agree that you have both ?

 

Demonstrators who act within the law

and

Agitators who are hellbent on looting and causing mayhem.

 

The issues then is .. what is the split between them 70 / 30 ?

 

Unfortunately, even if the split is 90/10 ... the 10% is all that people see and what is reported .. also the 10% can cause a lot of damage ...

 

What is the price of freedom and open democracy?

It does not matter one iota on what the percentages are, it is always the troublemakers that ruin it for the unknown percent that may be peacefull, if you are with the aggressors you become an accessory, the police cannot differentiate who are the good guys and who are the bad guys in a maelstrom like we are seeing. I didn't see many "demonstrators that act within the law" trying to stop these anarchists.

Untill all 'demonstrators' can act in a law abiding way all of these so called demonstrations must be cancelled with immediate effect.

 

What is the price of freedom and open democracy?

What is democratic by destroying others peoples property because you don't agree with something, comes across as fascism to me.

[OneMoreFarang]

Imagine he would deploy those troupes inside the USA. And imagine they would do what they are trained to do, kill people.

Would that finally convince at least some of his supporters that he is nuts? Or would they still vote again for him?

Don't forget: Trump would not be in charge if tens of millions wouldn't vote for him.

[wwest5829]

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

These protests will spread COVID-19 like wild fire.  The same protests took place in Australia & the UK over the weekend.

If they all catch the virus and get sick then it's their own fault.  They are putting everyone's lives at risk.

Irresponsible stupidity ......

 

Restore law & order. Send in the troops. 

 

I cannot disagree. Same as those who insisted on going to church.

[digger70]

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

He’s the ‘Commander in Chief’, or at least that’s what it says on the job description.

 

The military have refused to follow his orders and they have done so for sound legally and constitutionally founded reasons.

 

Trump isn’t fit for office.

 

Be thankful the military understand that.

At least DT got the Gonads to speak his mind and Do something to keep the Country Safe including disperse the crowds to lessen the spread of the Wuhan Flu. 

[bunnydrops]

1 hour ago, vogie said:

It does not matter one iota on what the percentages are, it is always the troublemakers that ruin it for the unknown percent that may be peacefull, if you are with the aggressors you become an accessory

So your saying one bad cop makes them all bad and should be gotten rid of? I understand your logic.

 

Everyone guilty until proven innocent? Was Tiananmen Square and the happening atThammasat University such a good ideas.

[billd766]

5 hours ago, DoctorG said:

A robust discussion. Nothing wrong with that. Shows that the advisors are not just yes-men.

But but they are supposed to be yes men and back up Trump whatever he says or does.