How Trump Is Using A Violent Crackdown To Paint Himself As A Strongman
Donald Trump has vowed to send a “surge” of federal agents to US cities – a move he portrayed as a crackdown on violence and crime. It has proven extremely controversial among campaigners and opposition politicians.
Here’s what has been going on in the US, and why the president has chosen this action now.
What did Donald Trump announce?
On Wednesday, the president announced he would deploy a “surge” of federal agents to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hundreds have already been sent to Kansas City, Missouri, as part of “Operation Legend” following the fatal shooting of a young boy there.
Operation Legend is named after LeGend Taliferro, a four-year-old boy who was killed in June by a stray bullet while he slept. The FBI is still searching for suspects.
Federal security forces have also been sent to Portland, Oregon, in recent weeks following two months of anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in May.
But local authorities have said the presence of federal agents on the streets of Portland has only exacerbated tensions and helped escalate civil unrest, with reports of protesters being masked and bundled into unmarked vehicles by agents.
Despite this, Trump wants to expand his “Operation Legend” programme to more cities.
He told reporters in the White House: “In recent weeks, there has been a radical movement to defund, dismantle, and dissolve our police departments. Extreme politicians have joined this anti-police crusade and relentlessly vilified our law enforcement heroes.”
The president claimed: “To look at it from any standpoint, the effort to shut down policing in their own communities has led to a shocking explosion of shootings, killings, murders, and heinous crimes of violence. This bloodshed must end. This bloodshed will end.
“Today, I’m announcing a surge of federal law enforcement into American communities plagued by violent crime.”
Trump painted Democrat-led cities as out of control, lashing out at...
