Trump Pulls Back National Guard Following Washington Protests
President Donald Trump said hes given the order for National Guard troops to start withdrawing in Washington, noting that everything is “under perfect control” after the sometimes violent protests, acts of vandalism, and arson following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The Washington government requested that some National Guard forces last week be sent to assist local law enforcement.
Trump ordered troops and federal law enforcement agents into the city to control the streets following looting and violence. Days later, as the protests calmed down, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called on the White House to withdraw National Guard troops that some states had deployed to the nations capital.
“I have just given an order for our National Guard to start the process of withdrawing from Washington, D.C., now that everything is under perfect control,” the president wrote on Twitter. “They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed. Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!”
There were online claims that about a million protesters would show up outside the White House on June 6, although the actual turnout appeared to be a fraction of that. Bowser, in solidarity with the protesters, had the words “Black Lives Matter” written in yellow on 16th Ave. in Washington.
Of the response to the June 6 protest, the president wrote late at night that the “National Guard, Secret Service, and D.C. Police have been doing a fantastic job. Thank you!”
