Donald Trump To Take Military Action Against Protesters

Donald Trump is taking military action against the protesters involved in the riots and looting across the United States since the death of George Floyd on May 25. In his Monday address, Trump ordered every governor to deploy the National Guard for the establishment of “overwhelming law enforcement presence” until the unrest has been suppressed.

The death of Floyd has sparked various protests across the country in recent days. Last weekend, protests in D.C. turned violent as police authorities tear-gassed the protesters.

In his speech on Monday night, Trump called the rioters “domestic terrorists.” He also threatened state governors that he would deploy the military if they don’t deploy National Guard “in sufficient numbers” to stop the riots.

Trump promised severe criminal penalties for the organizers of the protests, including the anti-fascist group ANTIFA, which he recently designated a terrorist organization. “My administration is fully committed that for George and his family justice will be served,” he said. “He will not have died in vain. But we cannot allow the righteous cries and peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob. The biggest victims of the rioting are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities and as their president, I will fight to keep them safe,” he added.

On Sunday night, protesters launched several fires across Washington near the White House. St. John’s Church, a U.S. National Historic Landmark, was also not spared from the attacks.

To quell the riots, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser deployed 500 National Guard soldiers to deal with the ongoing violence. Later that night, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy also ordered 1,200 soldiers to stop the riots.

The Sunday protests followed the Friday protests, during which protestors clashed with police and Secret Service agents outside the White House. Officials had to take the U.S. president to a secret underground bunker to protect him from potential attacks.

Earlier that day, Trump labeled the protestors as “thugs” and said he would not allow the protests to descend further into “lawlessness, anarchy, and chaos.”