President Trump announced Sunday the National Guard would withdraw from Washington, D.C., saying that “everything is under perfect control” following nearly two weeks of peaceful protests and violent rioting and looting in response to the death of George Floyd.
“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,” Trump tweeted. “They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed. Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!”
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. They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed. Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020
Army Sec. Ryan McCarthy said Sunday that within the next 48 to 72 hours, all out-of-state National Guard will be withdrawn from D.C.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS GATHER IN DC FOR MASSIVE GEORGE FLOYD DEMONSTRATION
Mississippi, Utah and Indiana National Guard will begin leaving at 5 p.m. and will be gone by 5 p.m. Monday. Maryland and New Jersey National Guard left D.C. Saturday. D.C. National Guard, which consists of about 1200 troops, will support the Metropolitan Police Department Sunday.
Unveiling the newly minted “Black Lives Matter Plaza” just steps from the White House, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Friday she would evict the National Guard from hotels, citing a “budgetary issue.”
In response, Trump tweeted: “The incompetent Mayor of Washington, D.C., @MayorBowser, who’s [sic] budget is totally out of control and is constantly coming back to us for ‘handouts’, is now fighting with the National Guard, who saved her from great embarrassment over the last number of nights.
“If she doesn’t treat these men and women well, then we’ll bring in a different group of men and women!” he said.
The incompetent Mayor of Washington, D.C., @MayorBowser, who’s budget is totally out of control and is constantly coming back to us for “handouts”, is now fighting with the National Guard, who saved her from great embarrassment…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2020
More than 5,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 11 states and D.C. are manning traffic control points, aid stations and protecting the safety of peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C. on June 6, 2020. pic.twitter.com/e30oT19pAI
— National Guard (@USNationalGuard) June 6, 2020