The murder of George Floyd shook the country. As protesters march through the streets of most American cities with face coverings and banners, Trump is facing the greatest civil unrest of his presidency.
On Monday, during a speech in the Rose Garden, President Donald Trump threatened that he will call on the military to disperse protesters. The statement, made during a speech where Trump claimed to be the “law and order” president, unnerved many within and outside the federal government. One such person who disagreed with the president’s assertion was Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
On Wednesday from the Pentagon, Esper openly disagreed with the president:
“The option to use active duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort, and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now. I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act,” Esper stated.
Esper called the death of George Floyd a “horrible crime,” and expressed his support for peaceful protests. His tone stern, Esper insisted “racism is real in America, and we must all do our very best to recognize it, to confront it, and to eradicate it.”
He also said officials should persecute all four officers involved in Floyd’s death.
The remarks at the Pentagon came after an uneasy start of the week in the US. Trump repeatedly suggests that the military should quell protests. This has brought on many requests for comment from the Pentagon. The Joint Chiefs of Staff and Esper have both been fielding countless questions from the press leading up to the press conference.
According to sources from within the White House, Trump and other top executive branch staff are “not happy” with Esper. However, some have speculated that this doesn’t necessarily mean that Esper is on thin ice with regards to his job. In the past, Trump has let top officials stay in their positions after he is no longer confident in them. Some have suggested this in order to shuffle blame their way.
According to anonymous sources that spoke with CNN, advisors have suggested the president keep Esper in his current position. In the event that things worsen, Esper could be blamed for the lack of military presence. Likewise, others have pointed out there may be little point in firing him five months before the election.
