In light of the widespread protests and demonstrations going on across the country in response to George Floyd‘s murder, President Donald Trump will address the nation on Monday. Trump’s address will take place from the White House Rose Garden and comes as tensions have been escalating across the country, including in Washington D.C. If you wish to watch the president’s remarks live, here’s how you can watch.
Trump’s address in front of the Rose Garden was live-streamed on the White House’s official YouTube account. At various points during his speech, the president referred to himself as a “president of law and order” and an “ally of peaceful protesters.” He also said that the nation was in need of “security, not anarchy.” While Trump did briefly address Floyd’s death, he did not mention any of the exact aims of these protests, which have been highlighting racial injustice and police brutality in America. In his address, he shared that he will be making efforts in order to stop the looting and rioting that has been going on in many parts of the country. The president also encouraged governors to bring in the National Guard in order to help break up these demonstrations. He said that if the states do not act then he would send in the military.
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The president specifically said, per The Guardian, “I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers, that we dominate the streets, mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled. If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”
According to CNN, Trump’s recent remarks align with what he said to governors in a video teleconference call on Monday. During the call, he reportedly told the governors, “You have to dominate or you’ll look like a bunch of jerks, you have to arrest and try people.” He also said, “It’s a movement, if you don’t put it down it will get worse and worse. The only time its successful is when you’re weak and most of you are weak.” Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker responded to Trump’s incendiary remarks, telling reporters on Monday that the president has exemplified “bitterness, combativeness, and self-interest” amidst these protests.
“I heard what the President said today about dominating and fighting. I know I should be surprised when I hear incendiary words like this from him, but I’m not,” Baker told reporters, per CNN. “At so many times during these past several weeks when the country needed compassionate and leadership the most, it was simply nowhere to be found.” He added that “we got bitterness, combativeness and self-interest. That’s not what we need in Boston, it’s not what we need right now in Massachusetts and it’s definitely not what we need across this great country of ours either.”
