A display of support for the Black anguish that has manifested in uprisings throughout the nation in response to the killing of George Floyd was never anticipated from the president — but neither was a threat.
In the very early hours of Friday, Trump suggested looters will be shot by police and the National Guard in a tweet that has since been flagged for violating Twitter rules and glorifying violence.
“These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen,” he wrote. “When the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!”
….These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
Although the tweet has been flagged, it has been left up on the platform, as Twitter believes “it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible."
Many people are now upset that 45 has not denounced the violence toward Black people by officers but will encourage the killing of American people for expressing their anger.
The US president is ENDORSING the murder of unarmed black people.
WAKE THE FUCK UP.— ༺ ???? ༻ (@lebabyb) May 29, 2020
Y’all’s “president” just said when the looting starts the shooting starts. The president just said he values PROPETY and ITEMS over AMERICANS. OVER PEOPLE. The leader of this country tweeted that with his WHOLE CHEST.
— sie (@siennajori) May 29, 2020
This MF said.. “When the looting starts, the shooting starts…” Unbelievable.
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 29, 2020
The president just threatened to kill his own citizens. Write that in the fucking history books.
— ZÉ TAYLOR (@FATHERBONNET) May 29, 2020
did the united states president just give the national guard the okay to shoot and kill its citizens via https://t.co/3NhDxxmrpl or is this real life?
— ???????? (@ANTWTF) May 29, 2020
That “th*gs” in all caps reads a lot like the n-word huh
— Ivycado ????✨ (@IvyKungu) May 29, 2020
For those of you who are not weighing the gravity of this tweet. The President of the United States has threatened to use the US military against its own citizens.
Read that again.
— NOT FOR THE SOCIALS???? (@j_donatella) May 29, 2020
trump wants a race war. there’s nothing else but violence and death that he wanted to incite with that tweet
— nappy by nature ???? (@sailorfemme) May 29, 2020
Trump’s tweets yet again show what racism looks like. This is why we need new leadership. Vote.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) May 29, 2020
Some have also pointed out his starkly different responses to protests calling for justice for Floyd and protests by white people to open the country back up during the coronavirus pandemic.
These two May tweets will be studied for many years. pic.twitter.com/ra9jGmoso1
— Jason #StayHome Kint (@jason_kint) May 29, 2020
"I feel very, very badly [about Floyd’s death]," the 73-year-old said on Thursday, according to CBS News. "That's a very shocking sight."
According to The Washington Post, the statement “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” can be traced back to 1967 when then Miami Police Chief Walter Headley said those exact words during a time in which the South Florida city was experiencing aggressive policing.
In addition to calling for the harm against his own citizens, the president also condemned Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for his handling of the protests, asking him to “get his act together and bring the City under control.”
I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
Frey was unaware of the tweets at a nighttime news conference and shook his head when reporters read him Trump’s comments.
"Weakness is refusing to take responsibility for your own actions. Weakness is pointing your finger at somebody else during a time of crisis,” Frey said in response. “Donald Trump knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis. We are strong as hell. Is this a difficult time period? Yes. But you'd better be damned sure that we're gonna get through this."
