Posted on May 9, 2022
Former Pentagon chief Esper says Trump asked about shooting protesters
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https://www.npr.org/2022/05/09/ [login to see] /trump-esper-book-defense-secretary
Former Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said President Donald Trump inquired about shooting protesters amid the unrest that took place after George Floyd's murder in 2020. He recounts that incident, and many others, in a wide-ranging interview with NPR's Michel Martin on All Things Considered.
Esper said he stayed in the administration because he worried that if he left, the president would more easily implement some of his "dangerous ideas."
The former Defense chief also said he hopes Trump does not seek the presidency in 2024.
"We need leaders of integrity and character, and we need leaders who will bring people together and reach across the aisle and do what's best for the country. And Donald Trump doesn't meet the mark for me on any of those issues."
Esper said he and other top officials were caught off guard by Trump's reaction to the unrest in the summer of 2020.
Former Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said President Donald Trump inquired about shooting protesters amid the unrest that took place after George Floyd's murder in 2020. He recounts that incident, and many others, in a wide-ranging interview with NPR's Michel Martin on All Things Considered.
Esper said he stayed in the administration because he worried that if he left, the president would more easily implement some of his "dangerous ideas."
The former Defense chief also said he hopes Trump does not seek the presidency in 2024.
"We need leaders of integrity and character, and we need leaders who will bring people together and reach across the aisle and do what's best for the country. And Donald Trump doesn't meet the mark for me on any of those issues."
Esper said he and other top officials were caught off guard by Trump's reaction to the unrest in the summer of 2020.
Former Pentagon chief Esper says Trump asked about shooting protesters
Posted from npr.org
SECDEF
Donald Trump
Protest
Freedom of Speech
1st Amendment
Posted 2 y ago
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The only record of shooting January 6th (of an unarmed citizen/veteran), and the guy wasn't even charged! Talk about no equal justice under the law!
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officer-who-shot-ashli-babbitt-during-capitol-riot-breaks-silence-n1277736?msclkid=589beaefcfbd11ec96f0c61109c0ad94
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officer-who-shot-ashli-babbitt-during-capitol-riot-breaks-silence-n1277736?msclkid=589beaefcfbd11ec96f0c61109c0ad94
Officer who shot Ashli Babbitt speaks after months in hiding: ‘I saved countless lives’
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Lt. Michael Byrd said he opened fire only as a “last resort” after the rioters failed to comply with his commands.
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LCDR (Join to see)
It was pretty obviously a righteous shooting. You're brainwashed if you think otherwise.
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SFC (Join to see)
LCDR (Join to see) - An unarmed women walking through a broken window dangerous and a threat? I will agree to disagree. I remember reading the officer who killed Babbitt had some other, shall we say, difficulties during his career. Good to see you sir.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."On how he responds to critics who say he saved troubling, behind-the-scenes details of the Trump administration for a book deal:
I would say that I saw these things happen and did something. I stayed in the fight, in the game, and managed to avoid bad things happening. If you read the book, you'll see any number of cases where I was able to steer off or push back bad things from happening that I am convinced that if I had left, if I had resigned on the spot in protest – which by the way, would have been a whole lot better for me personally – I truly believe that these bad things would have happened. And my bottom line was I could do more good for the country, for the American people, if I stayed rather than if I walked away, particularly since I was so confident that President Trump would put in an uber loyalist who would do exactly what he wanted to do.""
..."On how he responds to critics who say he saved troubling, behind-the-scenes details of the Trump administration for a book deal:
I would say that I saw these things happen and did something. I stayed in the fight, in the game, and managed to avoid bad things happening. If you read the book, you'll see any number of cases where I was able to steer off or push back bad things from happening that I am convinced that if I had left, if I had resigned on the spot in protest – which by the way, would have been a whole lot better for me personally – I truly believe that these bad things would have happened. And my bottom line was I could do more good for the country, for the American people, if I stayed rather than if I walked away, particularly since I was so confident that President Trump would put in an uber loyalist who would do exactly what he wanted to do.""
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