U.S. President Donald Trump's Pentagon chief shot down his idea of using troops to quell protests across the United States, then reversed course on pulling part of the 82nd Airborne Division off standby in an extraordinary clash between the U.S. military and its commander in chief.
Both Trump and Defence Secretary Mark Esper also drew stinging, rare public criticism from Trump's first defence secretary, Jim Mattis, in the most public pushback of Trump's presidency from the men he put at the helm of the world's most powerful military.
Former Secretary Mattis, a retired Marine general, lambasted both Trump and Esper in an essay in The Atlantic Wednesday for their consideration of using the active-duty military in law enforcement -- and for the use of the National Guard in clearing out a largely peaceful protest near the White House on Monday evening.
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told The Associated Press that the decision was reversed after Esper's visit to the White House. The White House didn't respond to request for comment on whether Trump ordered the change. Meanwhile, the president was taking credit for the deployment of federal and other law enforcement officers to the nation's capital, saying it offered a model to states on how to stop violence accompanying some protests nationwide.
"You have to have a dominant force," Trump told Fox News Radio on Wednesday. "We need law and order." Esper said that while he was aware they were heading to St. John's, he did not know what would happen there. McEnany said law enforcement conducted the operation with appropriate force, which included pepper spray and other chemical agents, and officers on horseback and batons clearing a crowd made up almost entirely of peaceful protesters.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Donald Trump Has Made The U.S. ‘No Longer Safe,’ Elizabeth May SaysNDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is also calling on Trudeau to denounce the U.S. president’s actions.
Read more »
Trump and Jim Mattis clash as ex-defense secretary blasts president’s handling of George Floyd killing‘Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try,’ Mattis wrote in a statement
Read more »
Pelosi calls on Trump to be ‘healer in chief’ as protests continue to rageHouse Speaker urges President to avoid fanning the flames
Read more »
'Revolting': Trump Gets Holy Hell On Twitter For Using Bible As Photo-Op PropPolice used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse peaceful protesters so the president could have his picture taken at a church.
Read more »
Trump pulls Republican National Convention out of North CarolinaDemocratic governor would not guarantee relaxation of physical-distancing rules in time for August nomination
Read more »
If Trudeau won't stand up to Trump, how will regular people: SinghNDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has accused the prime minister of hypocrisy for calling on Canadians to do more to combat racism but refusing to condemn inflammatory remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Read more »