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. You have to dominate.
