Republicans backing Esper in growing break from Trump
Jason Ditz
Defense Secretary Mark Esper stepped up to challenge President Trump on Wednesday, publicly opposing the idea of deploying active-duty US troops into American cities to quell the growing protests. This militarization was a plan President Trump has loudly been advocating.
Esper ordered 200 troops away from Washington D.C. and back to base early in the day, but after a meeting at the White House, he reversed that. White House aides say Esper is rubbing some the wrong way. Esper’s position is rubbing a lot of Congressional Republicans the right way.
Multiple House and Senate Republicans are backing Esper’s position, saying that the use of active-duty US troops on US soil is meant to be a last resort. White House officials say that they don’t plan to fire Esper just yet, but that this could change.
While Trump did get support from a few hawkish senators on sending troops to American cities, there seems to be a substantial number uncomfortable with the idea of such operations. These Congressmen are finding a voice in Esper, and this is likely to make Trump getting rid of him a dangerous proposition.
Esper ordered 200 troops away from Washington D.C. and back to base early in the day, but after a meeting at the White House, he reversed that. White House aides say Esper is rubbing some the wrong way. Esper’s position is rubbing a lot of Congressional Republicans the right way.
Multiple House and Senate Republicans are backing Esper’s position, saying that the use of active-duty US troops on US soil is meant to be a last resort. White House officials say that they don’t plan to fire Esper just yet, but that this could change.
While Trump did get support from a few hawkish senators on sending troops to American cities, there seems to be a substantial number uncomfortable with the idea of such operations. These Congressmen are finding a voice in Esper, and this is likely to make Trump getting rid of him a dangerous proposition.
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