By Haaretz. . .As the protest wave entered its sixth day, Trump has been facing a new source of strong criticism, this time from former senior military commanders, most prominent among them his own former Secretary of Defense, retired General James Mattis.
In a statement first published by Atlantic Magazine, Mattis accused Trump of actively trying to sow division among Americans. “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us,” Mattis explained.
“We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort,” Mattis wrote, referring to the current wave of protests, riots and police violence. He added that “We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership.” . . .
With regards to the demands put up by the protesters in the streets – mostly, an end to violence and discrimination directed by police forces towards African American citizens – Mattis wrote: “It is a wholesome and unifying demand — one that all of us should be able to get behind.”
Mattis also criticized the use of the military on Monday to attack the protesters in front of the White House. “When I joined the military, some 50 years ago, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution,” he stated. “Never did I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered under any circumstance to violate the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens.” (Read more from “Mattis Denounces Trump’s Military Response to Crisis” HERE)
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President Trump Reacts After Being Criticized by Former Defense Chief Jim Mattis
By The Blaze. President Donald Trump fired back harsh words against his former secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, on Wednesday, after the general publicly criticized the commander in chief for his response to the ongoing protests and rioting across the U.S. . .
A few hours after the article published, President Trump tweeted, “Probably the only thing Barack Obama & I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated General. I asked for his letter of resignation, & felt great about it. His nickname was ‘Chaos’, which I didn’t like, & changed to ‘Mad Dog’…”
The president added, “His primary strength was not military, but rather personal public relations. I gave him a new life, things to do, and battles to win, but he seldom ‘brought home the bacon”. I didn’t like his ‘leadership’ style or much else about him, and many others agree. Glad he is gone!”
. . .White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnancy reacted to Mattis’ criticisms of President Trump on Twitter, too, writing, “Former Secretary Mattis’ ‘article’ is little more than a self-promotional stunt to appease the DC elite. President @realDonaldTrump is the law and order President that has restored peace to our nation’s streets. Mattis’ small words pale in comparison to @POTUS’ strong action.”
(Read more from “President Trump Reacts After Being Criticized by Former Defense Chief Jim Mattis” HERE)
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James Mattis Condemns Trump as a Threat to the Constitution
By Axios. Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis condemned President Trump for making a “mockery of our Constitution” in a statement to The Atlantic on Wednesday, saying he was “appalled” at the president’s response to mass protests in the wake of George Floyd’s killing[:]
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Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that “The Nazi slogan for destroying us…was ‘Divide and Conquer.’ Our American answer is ‘In Union there is Strength.’” We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis—confident that we are better than our politics.
Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children.
We can come through this trying time stronger, and with a renewed sense of purpose and respect for one another. The pandemic has shown us that it is not only our troops who are willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the community. Americans in hospitals, grocery stores, post offices, and elsewhere have put their lives on the line in order to serve their fellow citizens and their country. We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Square. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution. At the same time, we must remember Lincoln’s “better angels,” and listen to them, as we work to unite.
(Read more from “James Mattis Condemns Trump as a Threat to the Constitution” HERE)
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