Governors including one Republican pushed back at President Donald Trump Monday after he told them on a phone call they are „weak“ and need to use force to „dominate“…
Governors including one Republican pushed back at President Donald Trump Monday after he told them on a phone call they are „weak“ and need to use force to „dominate“ riots that have erupted during protests over the death of George Floyd.
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a frequent target of Trump, called the phone call „deeply disturbing,“ adding that instead of offering support or leadership to bring down the temperature at protests, Trump told governors to “ ‚put it down‘ or we would be ‚overridden.‘ „
„The president repeatedly and viciously attacked governors, who are doing everything they can to keep the peace while fighting a once-in-a-generation global pandemic,“ Whitmer said in a statement. “The president’s dangerous comments should be gravely concerning to all Americans, because they send a clear signal that this administration is determined to sow the seeds of hatred and division.“
Minneapolis police officer Derrick Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder in manslaughter in Floyd’s death.
After a weekend of nationwide protests and riots, Trump went on an extended rant Monday morning in a conference call with governors of both parties, telling them that they need to arrest people and that „most of you are weak.“
He accused „radicals“ and „anarchists“ of being behind the unrest, and he urged governors to crack down on them.
„You have to dominate,“ he said, according to audio of the meeting obtained by multiple media outlets. „If you don’t dominate, you’re wasting your time. They’re going to run over you, you’re going to look like a bunch of jerks.
