Trump says his supporters ‘love the black people,’ calls on police to honor Floyd ‘by being tougher’
President Trump denied that his earlier tweet suggesting a “MAGA night” at the White House was meant to incite racial tensions, saying it was meant as a question because he had heard his supporters wanted to be at the protests.
“These are people who love this country, I have no idea if they are going to be here, I was just asking,” he told reporters in brief remarks outside the White House. “By the way, they love African American people, they love black people, MAGA loves the black people, I heard MAGA wanted to be there, I have no idea whether that’s true or not. But remember MAGA loves our country.”
The president attacked Minneapolis’s handling of the protests — adding a tangential that he’d had great political success in Minnesota by almost winning it in 2016 — and slammed Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey as a “probably a very good person but a radical left mayor.”
Earlier, Trump tweeted a harsher critique of Frey, writing that the mayor “will never be mistaken for the late, great General Douglas McArthur or great fighter General George Patton.”
“How come all of these places that defend so poorly are run by Liberal Democrats? Get tough and fight (and arrest the bad ones). STRENGTH!” Trump tweeted.
Trump spoke to reporters for a few minutes before leaving for Florida for the SpaceX launch. He said Minneapolis needed to “get tougher” on the protesters, and suggested that “by being tougher they will be honoring (George Floyd’s) memory."
Trump also offered the help of the U.S. military, saying the Pentagon was “ready, willing and able” to send troops to Minnesota if the state wants them.
President Trump denied that his earlier tweet suggesting a “MAGA night” at the White House was meant to incite racial tensions, saying it was meant as a question because he had heard his supporters wanted to be at the protests.
“These are people who love this country, I have no idea if they are going to be here, I was just asking,” he told reporters in brief remarks outside the White House. “By the way, they love African American people, they love black people, MAGA loves the black people, I heard MAGA wanted to be there, I have no idea whether that’s true or not. But remember MAGA loves our country.”
The president attacked Minneapolis’s handling of the protests — adding a tangential that he’d had great political success in Minnesota by almost winning it in 2016 — and slammed Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey as a “probably a very good person but a radical left mayor.”
Earlier, Trump tweeted a harsher critique of Frey, writing that the mayor “will never be mistaken for the late, great General Douglas McArthur or great fighter General George Patton.”
“How come all of these places that defend so poorly are run by Liberal Democrats? Get tough and fight (and arrest the bad ones). STRENGTH!” Trump tweeted.
Trump spoke to reporters for a few minutes before leaving for Florida for the SpaceX launch. He said Minneapolis needed to “get tougher” on the protesters, and suggested that “by being tougher they will be honoring (George Floyd’s) memory."
Trump also offered the help of the U.S. military, saying the Pentagon was “ready, willing and able” to send troops to Minnesota if the state wants them.
