Robert O’Neill, the U.S. Navy SEAL credited with killing Osama Bin Laden, has come out in opposition to riots following the death of a black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.
Demonstrations have spread in the days following Floyd’s death, including increasingly destructive and violent demonstrations. As the demonstrations worsened, O’Neill criticized the movement in a series of tweets.
O’Neill said in a May 30 tweet, “Un. Believable. I cannot believe I fought to defend you.”
Un. Believable. I cannot believe I fought to defend you.
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) May 30, 2020
By the time O’Neill posted the tweet, riots had set fire to a Minneapolis Police precinct, looted a nearby target and set fire to an AutoZone auto parts store.
“These ‘peaceful’ protesters certainly are violent.” O’Neill said in another tweet.
These “peaceful” protesters certainly are violent.
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) May 30, 2020
“I despise racism, I despise police brutality and it kills me that politically-funded terrorists are doing this on the shoulders of both,” O’Neill said in a later tweet.
I despise racism, I despise police brutality and it kills me that politically-funded terrorists are doing this on the shoulders of both.
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) May 30, 2020
“Always wear a mask and keep your social distance. Unless we are all looting. Then we are good,” O’Neill also tweeted in May 30, referencing the rioters’ lack of social distancing and mask-wearing intended to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Always wear a mask and keep your social distance. Unless we are all looting. Then we are good.
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) May 30, 2020
“Good news: Based on the media, looting kills the Corona Virus,” O’Neill said in another tweet.
Good news: Based on the media, looting kills the Corona Virus.
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) May 30, 2020
O’Neill also took aim at former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
“Don’t worry… I’m sure @JoeBiden will save us. He did nothing for 48 years… but here he comes!!,” O’Neill tweeted.
Don’t worry… I’m sure @JoeBiden will save us. He did nothing for 48 years… but here he comes!!
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) May 30, 2020
O’Neill’s tweet referenced Biden’s decades in political office without an apparent fix for the racial iniquities claimed by those protesting Floyd’s death while in the custody of a white police officer.
The former SEAL Team 6 member also pointed criticism at Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, who is a Somali immigrant.
“You wanted Somalia. You got it,” he tweeted.
You wanted Somalia. You got it. @IlhanMN
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) May 30, 2020
O’Neill also criticized law enforcement responses to the rioting and looting.
“After fighting al Qaeda, I’m embarrassed that our law enforcement can’t defend our citizens,” he tweeted.
After fighting al Qaeda, I’m embarrassed that our law enforcement can’t defend our citizens.
— Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) May 30, 2020
