#Trump says it was ‘a piece of cake’ to suppress violent protests in DC

President Trump said Friday that it was “like a piece of cake” to suppress violent protests in Washington and urged governors who are “too proud” to send in the National Guard.

Trump also said a drop in jobless numbers made Friday a “great day” for George Floyd, whose killing by Minnesota police sparked unrest, including outside the White House.

“The Secret Service was incredible, but we were also helped by the DC police and we were helped by the National Guard, was unbelievable. They came in and they…this was like a piece of cake,” Trump said in the Rose Garden.

“I’m suggesting to some of these governors that are too proud — in New York, I mean you see what’s going on there. Don’t be proud, get the job done. You’ll end up looking much better in the end. Call in the National Guard. Call me. We’ll have so many people,” Trump said.

He continued: “You have to dominate the streets, you can’t let what’s happening happen. It’s called dominate the streets. You can’t let that happen in New York where they’re breaking into stores and all of the things. And by the way, hurting many small businesses — you can’t let it happen.”

Trump also declared that “nobody’s ever done for the black community what President Trump has done,” noting his signed criminal justice reform legislation and permanent funding for historically black colleges, and presiding over historically low African-American unemployment.

The economic rebound after coronavirus-related business closures was good for equality, Trump said.

“Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying this a great thing that’s happening for our country. There’s a great day for him. It’s a great day for everybody. It’s a great day for everybody. It is a great, great day, in terms of equality,” Trump said.

Trump recounted during his remarks the suppression this week of violence outside the White House, which saw arson and street fighting between activists and authorities.

In Washington, Trump said, “the National Guard was barely used. And these people have done an unbelievable job, they helped the Secret Service, and Washington Secret Service [National Guard], by the way, are unbelievable. The job they did at the White House is unbelievable. There was never any form of like, oh, gee, this sounds dangerous.”

The DC National Guard was activated Saturday to help the Secret Service and US Park Police guard the White House. On Saturday and Sunday, they were pelted with bottles and bricks in Lafayette Park before widespread window-smashing and looting across downtown Washington.

The Trump administration requested thousands of out-of-state National Guard members to help secure downtown DC, in addition to officers from federal agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Trump has threatened to send active-duty troops into cities with uncontrolled looting using the Insurrection Act of 1807, but he hasn’t actually done so, instead urging use of the National Guard.

Minneapolis, the epicenter of national protests, showed that National Guard troops could restore order, Trump said.

“In Minnesota, they were ripping that place apart. I love it, we had such success there,” Trump said. “I called the governor and the National Guard went in and in one night it was over. You do not see the problem in Minnesota at all now, not even a little bit. Take a look at that great city. A great city, Minneapolis, and it was — it was under siege like nobody has ever seen, with people running from the police department, the great police. They were told to run. They did not want to run. It was bad governing. I’m not blaming the governor, I am blaming the mayor.”