‘I think the bigger problem are the people from within, we have some very bad people, sick people, radical left lunatics,’ Republican candidate tells Fox’s Maria Bartiromo

‘I think the bigger problem are the people from within, we have some very bad people, sick people, radical left lunatics,’ Republican candidate tells Fox’s Maria Bartiromo

…

“And it should be easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military,” he said.

“I think the bigger problem is the enemy from within. Not even the people who have come in, who are destroying our country.”

It isn’t clear under what circumstances Trump would view it justifiable to call in US troops against his own countrymen.

But his comments mark a baseless attack and a particularly hollow one coming from someone whose supporters violently attacked the US Capitol in an attempt to stop him from being thrown out of office three years ago.

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  • Maggoty@lemmy.world
    9·
    24 days ago

    The officers already told Trump no. And when the National Guard was deployed for BLM protests they actually stuck to their ROE and didn’t deploy force recklessly like the police. Even when the police tried to get the NG in trouble with the people by dressing like them and then telling the NG they might as well.

    If the NG was ordered to show up at the polls they would most likely sit in a position a couple hundred meters away where most people won’t see them but they’d be able to respond rapidly. They’d force the governor to be more and more explicit in their orders until they got to an actually illegal one. For example if the NG has been called for law and order they would be under the same restrictions as the police in regards to polling places. (In many states police aren’t allowed to hang out there, they have to vote and leave unless someone specifically calls them and faking a call to get them there could count as election interference.)

    I know it’s hard to understand the military mindset from the outside looking in, but I guarantee you it’s not the robotic machine that Hollywood portrays. They are very conscious of their responsibility to the people.

    • fadingembers@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      4·
      24 days ago

      You don’t think Trump will find people to do the job for him? Do you remember them black bagging and abducting people off the street in Portland during BLM? While the NG’s performance was commendable during that turbulent time, I wouldn’t rely on that fact staying true. Also I’m a vet and at least when I was in when we were given orders we weren’t told why we were doing them or given any context for them so in the heat of the moment that’s all you’re going to have to go off of.

      • Maggoty@lemmy.world
        6·
        24 days ago

        This is at a level far above where we dwelled. It’s the guys with stars on their shoulders shielding the troops. And you’re correct, Trump did find willing lackeys, but he found them in Federal Law Enforcement. Most of them came from the Bureau of Prisons. He can’t openly recruit among the military the way he can among federal agents. So I’m pretty sure what will really happen, if he’s elected, is he’ll stand up that group of agents again, equip them heavily and just call them soldiers.

        Which is actually straight out of the dictator’s handbook.