There emerged a serious difference of opinion between the US President Donald Trump and the military leaders over the former’s intention to use troops against the protesters.
President Trump is favouring the use of the army to quell the protesters, whom he described as terrorists. The US has been witnessing protests in many cities following the killing of African American George Floyd by a white police officer.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper publicly differed with Trump on using the army against the protesters. Esper on Wednesday said the active-duty troops should not be used to quell the protesters.
Later the line was picked up by other senior functionaries of armed forces.
“The option to use active-duty forces in a law enforcement role should be used as a matter of last resort and only in the most urgent and dire situations,” Esper said according to Aljazeera.
Trump openly threatened to deploy the military to tackle the violent protesters if the states failed to take action.” If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them,” the US president warned.