Trump’s Failed Leadership Put Americans In Harm’s Way
June 2, 2020
Yet again, Trump proved last night that he is not only unable to lead us through crisis, but he has no interest in trying. Trump managed to make the unrest gripping our nation worse, and put peaceful protesters in harm’s way for a photo-op designed to boost his reelection.
Trump failed to address the grievances of black Americans and has clearly learned nothing from the unrest gripping our nation.
Associated Press: “He made little effort to address the grievances of black Americans and others outraged by Floyd’s death and the scourge of police brutality, undermining what his campaign had hoped would be increased appeal to African American voters.”
Trump instead threatened military force to dominate protesters, which the Pentagon is concerned is extreme and unnecessary.
Associated Press: “Trump threatens military force against protesters nationwide’
CNN: “Pentagon officials express concern as Trump threatens to use military to ‘dominate’ protestors”
Trump declared himself an ally of peaceful protesters as federal law enforcement fired tear gas on them to clear the way for his photo-op.
Washington Post: “As Trump was declaring himself an ‘ally of all peaceful protesters,’ in other words, law enforcement officers acting at the direction of the White House were uprooting peaceful protesters before a curfew was in effect solely so that Trump could make his way to a photo op unmolested. That obvious incongruity aside, Trump’s claim to be an ally of peaceful protesters is perhaps the most ridiculous of the hundreds of ridiculous assertions he’s made since he announced his candidacy for the presidency in 2015. It’s hard to think of a statement both so self-serving and so divergent from demonstrable reality.”
Trump was denounced by the bishop of the church he commandeered for a photo-op, who said his actions were antithetical to their faith.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde: “The president just used a Bible … and one of the churches of my diocese without permission as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that our churches stand for. … I am outraged.”