President Trump
Donald John Trump, Pelosi and Blumenaur condemn Trump’s “heinous abuses of power” against Oregon protesters. Federal agents deployed in Portland had no riot control training: NYT Trump administration sought to block funding for CDC, contact tracing, and testing on new relief law: MORE report He scoffed at efforts to rename Fort Bragg, a military base in North Carolina named after Confederate General Braxton Bragg, amid continued protests against racism in the nation on Sunday, asking at one point: “Let’s name it after Reverend Al. Sharpton?
The moment, which immediately sparked a viral reaction on social media, came shortly after Trump was pressured by the Fox News presenter. Chris Wallace
Christopher (Chris) Wallace Sunday shows a preview: Trump, lawmakers weigh on COVID-19, masks, and school reopens amid rising virus On The Money: Improved unemployment insurance likely to expire during COVID aid talks -19 | Trump says he will not issue national mask mandate | Mnuchin: Most affected companies should be able to get the second PPP payment Trump says he will not issue a national mask mandate PLUS on the matter early Sunday after he promised to veto a defense spending bill if it required renaming bases like Fort Bragg and others named after Confederate leaders.
In the interview, Trump said he doesn’t “care what the military says” regarding the matter, after the Defense Secretary Mark Esper
Mark Esper Defense at night: The Pentagon effectively bans the Confederate flag | LGBT groups warn that politics also affects the Pride flag | Trump is reportedly watching the withdrawal of troops from South Korea. The Pentagon effectively prohibits the display of the Confederate flag. The Pentagon’s reflection plan to ban the Confederate flag without mentioning it by name: MORE report and secretary of the army Ryan McCarthyRyan McCarthyPentagon reflects on plan to ban Confederate flag without mentioning name: Defense overnight report: Army launches command probe after killing at Fort Hood | ‘MAGA’ appears as ‘covert white supremacy’ in military brochure Army announces review of Fort Hood command following Vanessa Guillén assassination MORE He said they are open to discussion on the subject.
“I’m supposed to make the decision,” he continued. “Fort Bragg is a big problem. We won two world wars. No one knows General Bragg. We won two world wars. Go to that community where Fort Bragg is in excellent condition, I love that state, go to the community, say how you like the idea of renaming Fort Bragg, and then what are we going to call it?
“I don’t care what the military says”: Trump rejects the support of the military to rename the bases named after the Confederate generals pic.twitter.com/ICGy2GTnXn
– Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 19, 2020
Are we going to name it after the Rev. Al Sharpton? What are you going to call him Chris, tell me what are you going to call him? he continued.
His comments about Sharpton sparked online criticism and sparked a civil rights leader and political commentator’s name on Twitter.
Sharpton addressed Trump’s comments in an MSNBC broadcast hours later, saying he “appreciated the momentum.”
“But let me say this,” Sharpton continued, “why not name him by people who served in the military for this country instead of traitors? Name him Crispus Attucks, the first person in the American Revolution to die to make the country free. ? He was a black man. “
Name it after one of the Tuskegee Airmen, Percy Sutton, whom I knew in New York, who served in the military when he was still segregated. Why not take seriously the contributions of people who have these Military bases named for them? Did they fight to keep them enslaved and in free bondage and treated them as less than human?
“That is what Mr. Bragg and Mr. Lee stood for,” he continued, apparently referring to Confederate General Robert E. Lee. “They were military officers who fought to overthrow a government that you now lead.”
Trump’s comments come as several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced support for the inclusion of a provision to remove the names of Confederate leaders from military bases in the National Defense Authorization Act.
When discussing the possibility of Trump vetoing the bill, which includes language that requires the Pentagon to remove names in House and Senate legislation, the Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Trump Administration Seeks To Block CDC Funding, Contact Tracing And Evidence On New Relief Bill: Inform Graham Of Lewis’s Death: “He Lived A Consequent Life” By do we need whistleblower protections related to COVID PLUS He said earlier this month that “I would expect the president not to actually veto the bill on this issue.”
“I hope the president reconsiders vetoing the entire defense bill, which includes salary increases for our troops, on a provision that could lead to name changes,” he continued.
Wallace raised a similar point during his interview with Trump on Sunday.
“Now this is a bill that funds military operations, gives soldiers a pay raise. Are you going to veto that? I ask.
“Hey look. Don’t tell me this. I got soldiers the biggest pay increases in the history of our military … I did more for the military than any other president who has had this office,” Trump said in response.
After repeatedly promoting the history of Fort Bragg and other bases named in honor of Civil War-era cause leaders in favor of slavery, Trump goes on to say he is still against renaming military bases. .
“I am not going to change them,” Trump told Wallace.
“So you will veto it,” he asked.
“I could, yes,” replied the President.
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