Esper: Take Trump comments about using military against Americans ‘seriously’

Former Trump administration Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Monday that people should take former President Donald Trump's threats to use military force against American citizens “seriously.”

Asked by CNN's Caitlan Collins if he was worried that President Trump would “try to use the National Guard or the military against the American people,” Esper said, “Of course I am.”

“Because I've been through that situation and watched in the summer of 2020 as President Trump and those around him tried to utilize the National Guard in various capacities in cities like Chicago, Portland, and Seattle. '' Esper said.

Esper specifically cited an example from June 2020, when President Trump “wanted to bring in active-duty military” against protesters.

“So what I'm equally concerned about with his comments is that the military will be used for this kind of thing,” Esper added.

Esper said the “good news” is that most uses of military force are illegal unless there are extenuating circumstances in which something like the Insurrection Act could be invoked.

“But my sense is that his tendency is to use the military in situations like this, which in my view is a bad role for the military,” Esper said. “Law enforcement should be the only ones taking these steps.”

Esper also said he was concerned about the talent Trump would bring into his administration if the former president was elected to a second term in the next three weeks.

Esper said he is concerned that “the first year of Trump's second term will look like the last year of Trump's first term.”

“I think what President Trump has learned is that the key is to surround yourself with people who will follow your orders, not push back, and do what you want them to do. “I think we've talked about it, his followers have talked about it, and I think loyalty will be the first litmus test,” he added.

The interview comes after the former president suggested in an interview Sunday that he would deploy the National Guard or military on Election Day to combat potential disruption from “the enemy from within.” , Trump said the group includes “radical left-wing lunatics.”

President Trump dismissed President Biden's concerns that Election Day would not be peaceful, responding to a question by saying he believes “the bigger problem is the enemy from within, not even the people who invaded and destroyed our country.” said.

“I think the bigger problem is the people inside,” Trump said. “We have some very bad people. We have sick people and radical left-wing lunatics.”

“And I think it should be dealt with very easily, by the National Guard if necessary, or by the military if it's really necessary, because they can't afford to let that happen,” he added. Ta.