On our own: why Trump does not intend to use the army to suppress protests

Donald Trump said he did not see the prerequisites for attracting the army to suppress the protests that swept the country and accompanied by unrest.

“We’ll see, I don’t think we will have to,” the US president said in an interview with Newsmax TV in response to a question about whether he would send the military to the cities after the outbreak of protests over the murder of George Floyd.

Recall that the administration’s plans to use the military to combat riots became known at the end of May. Then, the Associated Press agency, citing unnamed sources, reported that the US defense department ordered the military police to be put on alert. It was assumed that the military could be deployed in Minneapolis, which became the center of street protests.

• Donald Trump
• Reuters
• © Jonathan Ernst / File

Although current US law prohibits authorities from using the regular army to perform police functions in the country, there is an exception to this rule. We are talking about the law "On the uprising" of 1807, which gives the head of state the right to resort to military assistance to suppress riots and riots.

In early June, Donald Trump publicly confirmed the existence of these plans. Speaking at the White House, the US president criticized the mayors and governors, who, according to the politician, did not make the necessary efforts to normalize the situation.

Trump has promised to apply federal resources and measures in order to put an end to cases of looting and arson.

“I will mobilize all the resources available to the federal government, both civilian and military, to stop protests and looting, put an end to routs and arsons and protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including the rights guaranteed by the second amendment (to the US Constitution. - RT ) ", Trump promised. 

Pentagon Objections

However, Trump's plans did not meet with approval in society. Pentagon chief Mark Esper even criticized the proposal to use the army against the demonstrators. The minister emphasized that he did not support the idea of ​​applying the law "On the uprising."

“The ability to use the existing duty forces as law enforcement agencies should be used only as a last resort and only in the most urgent and difficult situations ... I do not support the application of the law on the uprising,” he said, explaining that he did not consider the current situation as such.

According to experts, this statement by the head of the Pentagon is unlikely to lead to a cooling of relations between him and Donald Trump.

“It doesn't look like it was a protest from Esper against Trump. This is just an expression of the mood that exists among the military, ”said Alexander Domrin, professor at the HSE, in an interview with RT.

According to the expert, what is happening in the USA is reminiscent of the events of the 1960s with the difference that today the military does not intend to oppose fellow citizens.

“It is possible to resolve this situation even without the participation of the military, to do with the forces of law and order,” the expert added.

A similar point of view is shared by Konstantin Blokhin, leading researcher at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

“The military does not want to shed the blood of its population, and therefore took this position. But Esper’s words will not lead to his resignation, if it does, then for other reasons. It’s difficult to work with Trump because he does not perceive the work in the White House as a civil service, but as managing his own corporation, he needs absolute loyalty from his subordinates, ”the expert explained in a comment to RT.

Esper's predecessor as head of the defense department, James Mattis, openly criticized Trump's approach to the situation in the country.

• Mark esper
• Reuters
• © Carlos Barria / File

“Donald Trump is the first president of my century who does not seek to unite the American people and does not even pretend to try. On the contrary, he is trying to divide us. We are observing the consequences of his three years of focused efforts, ”said the former Pentagon chief.

Earlier, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said that attempts to equate protesters in the US with terrorists are a matter of concern. According to her, statements in which protesters are trying to label as “terrorists” and peaceful protests are deprived of legitimacy are alarming.

Recall that acts of internal terrorism previously called street riots Donald trump. The head of the White House recalled that in Washington, protesters set fire to a church and seized a police station, and that several people had already died during the protests.

Trump blamed the events on the Antifa movement and promised that it would be included in the list of terrorist organizations.

“Violence and vandalism are led by anti-fascists and other left-wing radical groups. They terrorize innocent citizens, destroy jobs, harm entrepreneurs and burn buildings, ”Trump said. 

Recall that the Antifa movement, which opposes the idea of ​​white superiority and neo-Nazism, gained fame during the events in Charlottesville in 2017. 

Negotiation practice

Mass protests began in the United States after a video of the detention of 46-year-old African American George Floyd in Minneapolis hit the net. According to media reports, the reason for the detention was an attempt to pay in a store with a fake banknote.

The record shows how the policeman pressed the detainee's neck with his knee to the ground, although the latter already had handcuffs. Floyd complained that he could not breathe. He later died in intensive care. As experts subsequently stated, the cause of death was strangulation.

• US protesters
• Reuters
• © Terray Sylvester

Derek Chauvin - this is the name of the policeman whose fault Floyd could have supposedly died, was initially charged with murder of the third degree. His colleagues, also involved in the detention, were released. Subsequently, however, amid ongoing protests in the country, they were also charged, and Chovin was re-charged with second-degree murder. 

Speaking about the reasons forcing the head of the White House to soften rhetoric and declare the optional use of military force, experts note the pragmatism of the American leader.

“Initially, Trump is a businessman, and he uses the same tactics that are used during business negotiations. At first he showed the "club", and then said that you can completely do without it and agree on peaceful terms. Actually, he acted in the same way during the aggravation of relations between the USA and the DPRK, this is a common approach, ”said Alexander Domrin.

According to Konstantin Blokhin, the US president understands that the involvement of the army can provoke increased criticism of him.

“Trump is thinking about the upcoming elections, and if the military would have shed the blood of Americans on his orders, this would have reduced his chances of being reelected. Therefore, he decided not to take risks, ”said the expert.

At the same time, according to the political scientist, many Trump supporters expected that he would really use force to fight the riots.

“Trump needs to go along a fine line to simultaneously restore order and not fall under a flurry of criticism. Therefore, he does not want to take risks and hopes that the situation will resolve itself, ”concluded Konstantin Blokhin.