As violent demonstrations rock the nation in the wake of George Floyd’s death, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) says President Donald Trump is “fueling” the outrage and violence.
“Donald trump is scum for fueling racist hate and violence in our country,” Markey said in a tweet on Monday afternoon.
Donald trump is scum for fueling racist hate and violence in our country.
— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) June 1, 2020
Markey’s comments come as protesters have taken to the streets in all 50 states to voice their outrage at the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after he was pinned to the grown by a police officer who placed his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes.
Markey is not alone in his criticism of Trump’s rhetoric, as IJR reported.
Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker (D) urged the president to tone down his rhetoric during a call with the nation’s governors. He said, “It’s been inflammatory.”
“We have to call for calm. We have to have police reform called for. We’ve called out our national guard and our state police, but the rhetoric that’s coming out of the White House is making it worse,” he added.
Trump has been criticized for a series of tweets he sent out in recent days. After police clashed with law enforcement outside the White House on Friday night, “Great job last night at the White House by the U.S. @SecretService. They were not only totally professional, but very cool. I was inside, watched every move, and couldn’t have felt more safe.”
“Big crowd, professionally organized, but nobody came close to breaching the fence. If they had, they would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen. That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action,” he added.
Great job last night at the White House by the U.S. @SecretService. They were not only totally professional, but very cool. I was inside, watched every move, and couldn’t have felt more safe. They let the “protesters” scream & rant as much as they wanted, but whenever someone….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
….have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen. That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action. “We put the young ones on the front line, sir, they love it, and….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020
While many were hoping that Trump would deliver a national address to try to help quell the violence, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany appeared to pour cold water on that idea.
“He has routinely addressed, in his remarks less than 48 hours ago, the issue of law and order in our streets. He’s issued several statements,” she said when asked about a potential Oval Office address.
Additionally, McEnany said, “A national Oval Office address is not going to stop Antifa.”
“What’s going to stop Antifa is action. And this president has committed to acting on this,” she added.