President Trump threatened to send the National Guard into Minneapolis, where the National Guard has already been activated and deployed by Gov. Tim Walz (D), in a tweeted response early Friday to the chaotic protests, fires, and looting in the Twin Cities. "These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen," Trump tweeted, referring to the violent death that sparked three days of protests, so far. "Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!"
On Monday, a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes after handcuffing him in a forgery investigation. Floyd, who was black, repeatedly protested that he couldn't breath, and he died soon after. It was all caught on video by a bystander. Chauvin and four of his colleagues were fired Tuesday but none have been arrested. One of the chants from protesters has been "No justice, no peace!" It's not clear what Trump hopes to accomplish by pouring rhetorical gasoline on a raging fire.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
10 concert tours to see this upcoming fallThe Week Recommends Get ready for pumpkin spice season with concerts from big-name artists
-
How to put student loan payments on pauseThe Explainer If you are starting to worry about missing payments, deferment and forbearance can help
-
Is Kash Patel’s fate sealed after Kirk shooting missteps?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The FBI’s bungled response in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting has director Kash Patel in the hot seat
-
2 kids killed in shooting at Catholic school massSpeed Read 17 others were wounded during a morning mass at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis
-
Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murdersspeed read Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bailSpeed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambushSpeed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrialSpeed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside homespeed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confessionspeed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulderspeed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
