Widespread Appeal to U.S. Military; Trump: “I Am Not a Dictator
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Reuters, US President Donald Trump dismissed criticisms amid his ongoing efforts to deploy military forces to Washington, D.C. streets and threats to expand these measures to other parts of the country.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, “Many think Americans would welcome a dictatorship.”
He added, “A lot of people say ’maybe we want a dictator.’ I don’t like dictators. I am not a dictator. I am a very capable and smart man. And when I see what is happening in our cities and then decide to send troops, instead of praise they say I want to seize the republic. The people saying that are sick!”
Trump’s reliance on the military in the US capital has sparked criticism-including from Republicans-as he now considers sending troops to other major cities such as Baltimore and Chicago. Under the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, the US military is prohibited from intervening in civilian law enforcement affairs.
The National Guard is typically deployed during natural disasters at governors’ requests. Trump sent National Guard troops into washington, D.C., citing an emergency crime situation.
Trump and his political allies seek to reduce crime rates in various cities, claiming current statistics fail to accurately reflect criminal activity levels-especially in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore-alleging there is systematic underreporting.
Official data shows that homicides in the capital have reached 101 so far this year-a 15 percent decrease compared with the same period last year.
Trump says US military forces are ready for deployment in any city-even without requests from state governors.
