National Guard called Washington DC operation with Pepper Balls and Tear Gas: Trump

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On Thursday, US President Donald Trump has claimed that National Guard personnel assured him clearing the area around the White House last week, an operation that included pepper balls and tear gas, was a walk in the park. The president’s hawkish, anti-protester tweet came about 3-hours before he is scheduled to depart the White House for Dallas, where he will participate in a roundtable with faith leaders and law enforcement officials following protests stemming from George Floyd’s death in police custody. He will supposedly announce an executive order directing some policing reforms, but officials have yet to confirm he will do so in Texas.

The tweet showed how the president and his White House administration have sent mixed signals regarding policing and the need for changes. His team has called the death of a black man Floyd, under the knee of a white police officer a tragedy and called for justice for his family. But, Trump also has defended law enforcement officers, including two in Buffalo, New York, who pushed down a 75-year-old man then walked away and bled onto a sidewalk. President tweeted, “Our great National Guard Troops who took care of the area around the White House could hardly believe how easy it was. A walk in the park, one said”.

Our great National Guard Troops who took care of the area around the White House could hardly believe how easy it was. “A walk in the park”, one said. The protesters, agitators, anarchists (ANTIFA), and others, were handled VERY easily by the Guard, D.C. Police, & S.S. GREAT JOB!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020

Trump has said the president is choosing between a menu of police reform options and likely will sign onto a coming Senate Republican bill being crafted by South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (GOP caucus’ lone black member). It has caused some Democrats to wonder whether the president really is in a political position to back major changes, in spite of public opinion polls saying most Americans want reforms. He also tweeted, “The protesters, agitators, anarchists (ANTIFA), and others, were handled VERY easily by the Guard, D.C. Police, & S.S. GREAT JOB!” The press secretary of White House Kayleigh McEnany said Trump is open to policing reforms. She informed reporters that he would not sign legislation or executive order that would end qualified immunity for police officers.