Senate Republicans are urging President Trump to soften his language in responding to a wave of protests in major cities across the country after the …
Senate Republicans are urging President Trump to soften his language in responding to a wave of protests in major cities across the country after the death in police custody of George Floyd, fearing his rhetoric are fueling tensions instead of quelling them.
Republicans from across the political spectrum on Sunday and Monday warned that Trump’s verbal shots at protesters and local officials alike are “not constructive” or “helpful” and urged him to change his tone.
While many GOP senators have never been fans of Trump’s unrestrained tweeting habit, his latest public salvos are piquing fresh concerns among lawmakers.
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) at a press conference on Monday told reporters: “I do think some of his tweets have not been helpful and it would be helpful if he would change the tone of his message.”
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S. C.), the only African-American Republican in the Senate, told “Fox News Sunday” that Trump’s rhetoric making reference to a 1967 comment from a Miami police chief warning that looters would be shot was “not constructive.”
So far, the calls do not seem to be having much of an impact on Trump, who on Monday evening embraced a tough approach to protestors.
The president delivered a six-minute statement from the White House as National Park Police, National Guard units and other law enforcement used tear gas and flash-bang grenades to aggressively clear the park across from White House.
He announced that he would immediately end the “riots and lawlessness” and that he would dispatch “thousands and thousands of heavily-armed soldiers, military personnel and law-enforcement officers.”
The president said his administration is “fully committed” to ensuring justice for Floyd’s family and called the cries of peaceful protesters “righteous.” But he warned they are at risk of being “drowned out by an angry mob” and declared he would protect the nation as a “president of law and order.”
“A number of state and local governments have failed to take necessary action to safeguard their residents. Innocent people have been savagely beaten,” Trump said before referencing his earlier call with governors.
“Today I have strongly recommended to every governor to employ the national guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets,” he said. “Mayors and governors must establish and overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled.”
Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.
