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Donald Trump lashed out at Portland’s “incompetent” mayor when presidential candidate Joe Biden accused the president of “recklessly encouraging violence” in the city.
A man died Saturday night amid clashes between rival groups in Oregon City, which has seen months of unrest since the police murder of George Floyd.
Trump tweeted Sunday: “If the incompetent Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler does not take control of his city and stop the anarchists, agitators, rioters and looters, who cause great danger to innocent people, we will go in and deal with the matters the way they should have been handled 100 days ago. “
The protesters clashed with a large group of Trump supporters in the city
It came when Biden, his opponent in the November election, said the president was “fanning the flames of hatred and division in our society and using the politics of fear to stir up his supporters.”
Hundreds of people have been arrested in Portland in recent months when protesters smashed government buildings and police stations and authorities responded with tear gas and pepper spray.
On Saturday, about 600 vehicles carrying Trump supporters passed through the city and were confronted by protesters against it.
The founder of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer identified the man who was shot dead as Aaron “Jay” Danielson. Police have released little information and say they are still investigating.
Police take body of person shot to death on Saturday
Biden said in a statement that he condemned the violence “unequivocally” and called on Trump to do the same.
“He is recklessly fomenting violence,” said the Democratic challenger.
“You may believe that tweeting about law and order makes you strong, but your inability to call on your followers to stop seeking conflict shows just how weak you are.
Biden said the president was trying to use the ‘war on our streets’ to his advantage
“You may think that the war on our streets is good for your reelection chances, but that’s not presidential leadership, not even basic human compassion.”
Trump is making the issue a key point in his fight for re-election, which polls say he is currently losing, and has taken advantage of protests in cities like Portland and Kenosha in Wisconsin, where he sent the National Guard last week.
He has accused Democratic mayors and governors of being weak in addressing violence and unrest, tweeting on Friday that “America’s ten most dangerous cities are ALL run by Democrats, and this has lasted for DECADES!”
The mayor of Portland was visibly angry Sunday when he responded to the president’s criticism of him.
Addressing him directly through the camera, she said: “That’s classic Trump. Mr. President, how can you think that a comment like that, if you’re watching this, is in any way helpful?
Portland mayor spoke directly to camera while responding to Trump’s criticism
“It’s an aggressive stance, not collaborative. I certainly approached, I think in a collaborative way, saying first that you must do your part and I must do my part and then we must both be held accountable,” said Mr. Wheeler.
The mayor told Trump that they should “work together.”
The president is due to visit Kenosha on Tuesday after protests there last week following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man who was paralyzed after an officer shot him seven times.
The circumstances that led to the incident are unclear.
Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, has been charged with murder in the Kenosha deaths. Image: Adam Rogan / The Journal Times via AP.
A police union has claimed that had a knife and attacked the officers, but the family’s lawyers deny it, saying he was just trying to break up a domestic dispute.
Two people were killed in protests in the city on Tuesday and a 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse has been charged with murder.
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