Trump Finds His 'Red Line' Only When White Lives Aren't at Risk
According to The Hill, former President Trump declared there was 'no reason right now' to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis amidst protests following George Floyd's murder. This stance is quite the pivot for a man who eagerly threatened military intervention during peaceful Black Lives Matter protests in D.C. or later, when attempting to overturn a democratic election. One might recall
his unhesitant calls for troops to 'dominate the streets' in cities across the nation, often against unarmed civilians expressing dissent. It appears the 'threat to national security' bar for invoking extraordinary powers is remarkably flexible, shifting based on what—or more precisely, who —is being protested. The media, of course, focuses on his words at face value, conveniently omitting the
stark contrast with his previous rhetoric and actions. It seems 'law and order' is a policy selectively applied, depending on the demographics and political optics of the 'insurrection' in question.