President Donald Trump took to Twitter Saturday morning to condemn the violent and destructive protests nationwide on Friday night, which erupted in response to the death of Minnesota man George Floyd in police custody on Monday.
Trump suggested the protests that have cropped up in cities around the country are professionally organized and that their true intentions have little to do with protesting Floyd’s death.
“The professionally managed so-called “protesters” at the White House had little to do with the memory of George Floyd. They were just there to cause trouble. The @SecretService handled them easily,” Trump tweeted. “Tonight, I understand, is MAGA NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE???”
The professionally managed so-called “protesters” at the White House had little to do with the memory of George Floyd. They were just there to cause trouble. The @SecretService handled them easily. Tonight, I understand, is MAGA NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE???
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
Trump followed up with another tweet, “These are ‘Organized Groups’ that have nothing to do with George Floyd. Sad!”
These are “Organized Groups” that have nothing to do with George Floyd. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
In a third tweet, Trump took aim at the Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for his handling of the initial protests, which have since become violent and destructive with a police precinct and local businesses burned and looted.
“Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis will never be mistaken for the late, great General Douglas McArthur or great fighter General George Patton. How come all of these places that defend so poorly are run by Liberal Democrats? Get tough and fight (and arrest the bad ones). STRENGTH!”
Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis will never be mistaken for the late, great General Douglas McArthur or great fighter General George Patton. How come all of these places that defend so poorly are run by Liberal Democrats? Get tough and fight (and arrest the bad ones). STRENGTH!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
In another tweet, Trump suggested the left wing Antifa is also to blame for the destruction.
“It’s ANTIFA and the Radical Left. Don’t lay the blame on others!,” Trump tweeted.
It’s ANTIFA and the Radical Left. Don’t lay the blame on others!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
Trump’s string of criticisms came after he wrote a thread of tweets earlier in the morning praising the U.S. Secret Service response during protests outside the White House.
“Great job last night at the White House by the U.S. Secret Service. They were not only totally professional, but very cool. I was inside, watched every move, and couldn’t have felt more safe,” Trump said.
….got too frisky or out of line, they would quickly come down on them, hard – didn’t know what hit them. The front line was replaced with fresh agents, like magic. Big crowd, professionally organized, but nobody came close to breaching the fence. If they had they would….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
“They let the ‘protesters’ scream & rant as much as they wanted, but whenever someone got too frisky or out of line, they would quickly come down on them, hard – didn’t know what hit them. The front line was replaced with fresh agents, like magic. Big crowd, professionally organized, but nobody came close to breaching the fence,” he continued.
“If they had they would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen. That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action. ‘We put the young ones on the front line, sir, they love it, and good practice.’ As you saw last night, they were very cool & very professional. Never let it get out of hand. Thank you!” he went on.
….good practice.” As you saw last night, they were very cool & very professional. Never let it get out of hand. Thank you! On the bad side, the D.C. Mayor, @MurielBowser, who is always looking for money & help, wouldn’t let the D.C. Police get involved. “Not their job.” Nice!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
Trump then took aim at the Washington, D.C. mayor, who ordered police to stand down against protesters.
“On the bad side, the D.C. Mayor, @MurielBowser, who is always looking for money & help, wouldn’t let the D.C. Police get involved. ‘Not their job.’ Nice!”
The White House entered a brief lockdown on Friday evening as protests erupting nationwide reached the nation’s capitol.
Video posted to social media showed unrest growing outside the White House. Protesters began pushing over barricades, and some individuals were seen taken into police custody.
