Defense Secretary Mark Esper has expressed concern within the Trump administration that federal law enforcement personnel President Donald Trump has dispatched to Portland, Oregon, to protect monuments and federal buildings may be confused with military troops, according to a Defense Department official.
Images of armed federal agents wearing military-style uniforms and riot gear devoid of identifying agency markings have raised concerns among many Americans who fear Trump’s response to the civil unrest too closely resembles an authoritarian crackdown using the military.
“We saw this take place back in June,” Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “Some law enforcement make them appear military in appearance.”
“The secretary has expressed concern of this within the administration,” Hoffman said. “We want a system where people can tell the difference.”
The concerns stem in part from the president’s activation of National Guard troops to help local law enforcement last month with protests in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death while in police custody in Minnesota. National Guard forces were present – but did not participate – when police forcibly cleared Lafayette Square of protesters in June shortly before Trump walked from the White House through the park for a photo op in front of a nearby church. The Army investigated the D.C. National Guard’s use of helicopters for “show of force” low-altitude flybys to disperse protesters during protests elsewhere.
Hoffman said Esper had not engaged directly with acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf or anyone else within that department about the appearance of the federal agents, who are reportedly from specialized units within the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Trump has centered his ire at Portland amid nationwide protests, tweeting last week that politicians running the largely political progressive city “are just fine with 50 days of anarchy.”
Trump later tweeted, “We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it. Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators. They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, AND OUR PEOPLE. These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal!”
He has reportedly considered deploying federal forces to similar situations in other cities, including Chicago.
I’m sort of thinking it might be a good idea to LET-EM-BURN until the leftist political officers beg for help.
I have to agree with you, THIS IS DOMESTIC TERRORISM WE DON’T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS!
How many times have we heard that? Seems to me that The DEMOCRATS HAVE TURNED THEIR BACKS ON AMERICA. THEY ARE LETTING THESE TERRORISTS FIGHT THE BATTLE FOR THEM. AGAIN THE DEMOCRATS ARE USING THE BLACKS TO GET WHAT THEY WANT.
AND WHAT THEY WANT IS POWER, CONTROL AND MONEY! A ONE WORLD ORDER..
the U.S. military is forbidden to act within U.S. borders.
so it seems that the Constitution would separate his actions in a foreign country as a thing he would have
expertise in. But law enforcement within the U.S. would not be in his perview.
If the officers have POLICE inscribed on their uniforms, what difference does it make?
Is he wanting the Police Officers to have their name, home address and phone number shown below the word Police?
George Floyd died of a drug overdose, (Fentanyl, along with other drugs) NOT from the officer kneeling on his neck, according to autopsy reports. The Marxist BLM organization, along with the antifa terrorists are using the tv video to further their cause… planned and paid for by the Soros/Clinton/Obama/Gates/Fauci Mafia. Their goal? To destroy America, institute Communist One World Order, microchip the sheeple, and put the demosocialist elite into their position as slavemasters. The plan has been propagated by the deep state for YEARS! Just sit back and ENJOY THE SHOW. OH… AS FAR AS THE VIRUS IS CONCERNED, FEAR OF IT IS BEING INCCREASED BY ATTRIBUTING DEATHS BY ANYTHING, AS DEATH BY COVID!
Mark Esper is more concerned about appearances than he is about results. He should discuss his concerns privately with the president instead of with the liberal media. He needs to be replaced.
60 days of rioting, property destruction is enough!! President Trump is doing the job he was elected to do which is to put America first and protect American lives and property from any rioting or terrorist acts.
Let Portland go down the drain. Pay for the citizens to move to Canada. The mayor has to stay the.
Biggest problem with our militsry, (and that of other nations as well) THE LEADERSHIP! Decision making should be pushed down to the people who know how, THE SENIOR ENLISTED RANKS! The Master Sergeants , Gunnery Sergeants, and Chiefs should be given the decision making power. Moving up in the current General, Admiral etc ranks depends too much on “WHO IS KNOWN NOT WHAT IS KNOWN” It is my opinion that we will win this coming asltercation between the Democrat/Socialist BLM and Antifa organized militia groups with armd civilian militia groups. We exmilitary, gun handlers and gun owners, hunters and the like own far more weapons than even our military. What it will take is the spark to touch off the armed intervention and BLM and Antifa will keep pushing back on president Trumps gallant efforts with no success until frustration on their part will will crack the egg !
Change the top of the uniforms to identify federal officers and send more!
Stop allowing this carnage and disrespect for our Country that my father, uncles and cousins have fought to secure in wars of the past. To allow this to continue is despicable and will
create hate and discontent never before witnessed.
Does everyone in the Pentagon and the media think that the everyday American is stupid or is the pentagon just trying to CYA in case President Trump is not re- elected? We all know what Federal agents do and how it works we also know the difference between federal agents and the military just like we know the difference between peaceful protesters and riots and anarchy. What we are seeing in Portland and Seattle is plain and simple Anarchy and it has nothing to do with George Floyd or actually caring about Black Lives it is about groups like Antifa and BLM who do not actually care about real Black lives they care about statues and cancel culture and reimagining our country to what they think will be a socialist utopia. Not sure why President Trump put Esper in that position he is gutless and is part of the swamp!! He needs to go!! This country needs people that want to help us not cover there own butts who only care about their careers and staying in power no matter who is President or which party is in power and unfortunately that is most of the people at the Pentagon , CIA, FBI, the State Dept. they are part of the swamp and could care less about this country. They are there for their own power and position they are as bad or worse in some ways than the politicians at least we stand a chance of getting rid of the politicians the entrenched government workers are there forever!! God Help Us!!
I agree with our President completely! If the Governors and the mayors won’t do anything then the President has every right to protect the Federal buildings and statutes that represent the history of this country. You don’t have to agree with what happened way back in history, but it is our history.
IT is time to stop the riots and the America to where everything is civil again. BLM is beating up elder up and beating kids and women for no reason and harrassing every because they can. Shooting at will. This needs to stop.
Esper should resign. Any General who thinks this way should go as well. They have lost their way…the anarchists which include BLM are seeking overthrow of our way of life. Plain and simple! They should be dealt with like the enemies they are.
These cities are in anarchy and the city officials are duplicitous in these acts of sedition!!! Trump has every right and authority to use whatever means necessary to clean out these Marxist rebels!!!
Esper must go…any General who is of the same thinking must also go…
Our military is prohibited by to engage the misfits of Antifa or BLACK lives matter. The liberal maggots in Portland and the state of Oregon are doing nothing or encouraging bad behavior by these maggots. I would have snipers watching crowd and as soon as someone cocked their arm to throw an explosive device towards building or fed agents. I would terminate his existence on this earth.
Trump has constitutional authority to protect federal property – ANYWHERE. WHY do our troops need uniformed I.D. to directly protect federal property against MASKED & destructive THUGS who are NOT PEACFUL PROTESTERS? We know that the answer is liberal HATE TRUMP political idiosy.
This “DOTARD” Trump is ready for his “JAIL” time. This is a Democratic Country with Three branches of government with check and balance of power. Executive-Legislative-Judicial. This moron don’t have a clue of how this system operates.His behavior highlights his incompetence.. He is acting like a white collar thug.Law and order he chirps. He have broken laws his 70+ years on this planet. The empty wagon makes the noise.He is a noise maker .
so, what is your solution? easy to criticize, but very difficult to offer a solution? would be nice to see you add some value
President Trump should do what he needs to do!! Violence has been allowed too long! This has to be stopped! Esper should be helping our President. The American people deserve that and President Trump knows it! Esper should step up! Our country is being destroyed and people are sick of this!
As for Dr. Fauchi……..HE is one of our our worst nightmares!!
Perhaps Esper should step down. He obviously doesn’t want to do the job. President Trump is having to do what the Democratic mayors and governors refuse to do. Good people need to STAND with our President before it’s too late! I don’t think people realize how close we are to being destroyed as a nation.
A bit misleading, at first it sounded as if the military was concerned about the legality.
Spray the anarchists with COVID 19 mist. It shouldn’t kill them but it would sure put them out of action for a while.
m.61803. . . Buckshot aimed halfway to rioters used to work well to get rioters to backoff.
Which would you rather have a authoritarian crackdown, or more looting , total disrespect for law and order. Burning Police cars and businesses , totally destroying law abiding citizens businesses. What is the meaning of this unrest? What is the point. Would you just let these crazy violent insurgents have there way. Trump is doing the right thing! These are not Peaceful protestors , they are something else, Something that has not been defined yet !
Esper needs to go. Does he want to see every large City in the USA lit on fire? This criminality must stop–the rioting must stop. For 60 days was Esper sleeping to not notice what the Marxist thugs were attempting to burn down in Portland? A 16 story Federal Courthouse with employees inside. The Marxists are attempting to shut down the water supply and burn the building and incinerate all who are inside. Mr Esper resign.
This is a military takeover of the US Government and a takeover of the government should be stopped by the military arm of the government. The US Republic is ruled by laws and anyone who breaks the laws should be stopped by force. Insurrection must be put down to the detriment of the perpetrators.
That weak-kneed Sec of Defense talks like a RINO. The Federal Officers have distinctive markings and coded ID Tags. Ester Esper is listening to Gossip.
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