President Trump’s final decision to speak in the Rose Garden last evening as protests raged outside the gate was made only hours before, reflecting chaos on both sides of the fence.
Why it matters: Trump’s ultimate remarks fell where his instincts always were: blunt, brutal law and order, with extreme demonstrations of militarized “strength” and blustery threats.
- “I am your president of law and order,” he declared. “Where there is no justice, there is no liberty.”
For the previous 48 hours, aides and outside political advisers hotly debated whether Trump should address the nation.
- Some top officials argued against the idea — telling Trump that his speech would change nothing, that the protests would continue regardless of what he said.
- But others were getting desperate. A number of people reached out directly to the president or his top aides to tell them, with great urgency, that he needed to be seen. They saw signs on Twitter that the conservative base was turning against him, with the question: “Where is Trump?”
A senior White House official said Trump was especially infuriated watching footage of shopkeepers defending their stores against violent looters.
- “He felt like they’ve been in lockdown [for COVID] and now the minute they’re allowed to open they have to close again because of this,” the official said. “Not gonna let it happen.”
The senior ranks of the Pentagon had been in flux:
- Trump wanted to federalize forces across the nation — a decision that has been held off for the moment. But he also wanted a massive display of force in Washington.
- Two senior administration officials said planners had doubts about whether there were enough National Guard members to handle the increasingly violent protests in D.C. So discussions turned to boosting that with possible additions of neighboring state National Guard.
Not everyone in the White House was thrilled with the church photo op.
- One senior aide was exuberantly telling friends the photograph of him holding a Bible in front of the church that had been attacked by vandals was an “iconic” moment for the president.
- But a senior White House official told Axios that when they saw the tear gas clearing the crowd for Trump to walk to the church with his entourage: “I’ve never been more ashamed. I’m really honestly disgusted. I’m sick to my stomach. And they’re all celebrating it. They’re very very proud of themselves.”
It’s time for Americans to take back our country from these treasonous communist backed Antifa driven democrats they want to destroy America they tried impeachment they unleashed covid nothing worked so here and now they will close America with riots
Enough is enough
We must take up arms and support our President and Our military we must destroy the democrats and their treason call Washington call your representatives and tell them we are going to defend America our lives and our way of life
Our enemies have always stated they will destroy us from within well there here now and it’s every Americans duty to stand up to these treasonous traitors and eliminate them forever with extreme prejudice
Vote out these treasonous scum and eliminate those Demscum that escape NOW
Censorship is alive in this media my rights are being violated by this media they censor my comments by stating they are reviewing and moderating what I say
That is censorship
This is a communist Demscum media
Patriot work news is a sham
Mr Disgusted needs to resign!! or be fired now! If he is not with the President then he is against him. We don’t need anymore traitors in the White House.
The President made two mistakes when he took office…. Jeff Sessions and not cleaning house. You can’t be “Mr. Nice Guy” to Traitors.
Who ever the senior white house official was must be a Trump hater. The poor guy can’t do anything right no matter how hard he tries. He has the guts to get out there amongst the ravagers, polluters, & has sympathy for the shopkeeper’s trying to defend their businesses. And can’t even get support for that. I thought it was very touching that he walked to the church that was vandalized with a bible in his hand. Anymore I just about can’t stand any of the news stations or the commentators.
Dump Trump this November or America will be ripped to shreds in the next four years.
alot of peopledisagree
Allegedly the “ tear gas “ was actually Smoke Canisters.
Let’s get it clarified, now that the air is clean.
Most of the “officials” being listened to concerning what we, as a nation, should do or not do regarding our present national problems, are not qualified. For example, the retired “generals”, are trained for specific military situations as they relate to our foreign enemies, not how to handle every-day problems within our country. President Trump is not only a business man but he also has a lot of common sense. His positive record to date, in other areas, prove that. Having been around for over 90 years, individuals my age who have witnessed our past national problems from the Great Depression, two World Wars, numerous “cold wars” etc., being successfully dealth with– are the “authorities” to whom our leaders need to be listening — not those with impressive degrees and “pedigrees”. Our leaders keep saying they can’t be too hard on all the protesters because of the innocent, peaceful protesters within that crowd. Did it ever occur to them to publicly instruct the “Peaceful Protesters” to remain at home one evening so that the hoodlums, thieves, murders, and the like, could be aggresively dealth with? But, they apparently are, as a whole, lacking common sense. Meanwhile, we as a nation are paying the price for that.
Our President was right. Holding the Bible displaying a church indicates righteousness and peace for all Americans. Destroying other’s property is illegal. Every lawbreaker needs to face justice.
If the ‘protestors’ had moved away from the White House as requested, no tear gas would have been used. If you don’t have enough respect to let the POTUS move safely, then you deserve tear gas!
I don’t see an option to Trump ,he is the best chance we have to have a full recovery and a booming economy no body else seems to care .
agree