#Trump restored ‘law and order’ in Washington after Mayor Muriel Bowser failed: White House

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President Trump and Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser have clashed in recent days.
Getty Images; AP

The White House returned fire on Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday, saying her lack of “leadership” forced President Trump to order a massive federal deployment to pacify anti-police brutality protests.

Bowser earlier said she did not invite thousands of National Guard members from other states and wants them to leave, then mocked Trump as “alone” and “afraid” amid the increasing militarization of downtown Washington.

White House spokesman Judd Deere said, however, that it was necessary for the Trump administration to amass forces to support city police because of Bowser’s failure to subdue property damage and violence on Saturday and Sunday.

“Unfortunately, the mayor did not provide early leadership to ensure peaceful protests and prevent riots and violence as demonstrated by the arson to St. John’s Church, defacing of national monuments and destruction of several COVID-19 testing sites in vulnerable communities, forcing the president to take necessary action to restore law and order,” Deere said.

“Despite seeing issues in other cities, the mayor was slow in her response, which unfortunately undercut the important message of those wishing to honor the memory of George Floyd,” Deere added.

On Twitter, Bowser thanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a fellow Democrat, on Thursday for “standing with DC as we push back on uninvited military, out-of-state National Guard & unidentifiable federal officials amassing on our streets for the glorification of one man who sits afraid/alone.”

Bowser’s barbs for Trump came as she on Thursday ended a four-night curfew intended to curb violence as activists protested the killing of George Floyd by Minnesota police. A curfew was first imposed Sunday after an initial night of violence and looting, but it was widely ignored as activists again battled police before a citywide spree of window-smashing and theft.

Local police made just 19 arrests Saturday and 90 on Sunday, according to DC Police Chief Peter Newsham.

On Monday, local officials did seek to enforce a 7 p.m. curfew. DC police mass-arrested 194 people on a quiet residential street a mile north of the White House for curfew violations and chased another protest march with flash-bang grenades and pepper spray. A low-flying DC National Guard helicopter hovered over that group.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, DC authorities made no effort to enforce the curfew and facilitated large night marches. Both nights were largely peaceful. Police made no protest-related arrests Wednesday, Newsham said.

In addition to thousands of out-of-state National Guard troops, hundreds of officers from federal agencies are also on DC streets, including from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosive, the FBI and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.