US Defense "No Military Deployment"... White House Hints at Possible Dismissal

Esper Opposes Military Deployment Under Insurrection Act
Open Rejection of Trump's Views
White House Spokesperson: "Authority Lies with Trump"
Possibility of Defense Secretary Dismissal Raised

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The White House and the Secretary of Defense are in conflict over the implementation of the Riot Control Act, which allows the deployment of the military to suppress protests that spread following the death of Black man George Floyd. When the Secretary of Defense made an unexpected statement contrary to President Donald Trump's decision, the White House even hinted at the possibility of dismissing the Secretary of Defense.

From the left, Mark Esper, Secretary of Defense; William Barr, Attorney General; Robert O'Brien, National Security Advisor; President Donald Trump; Kayleigh McEnany, White House Press Secretary
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 3rd (local time), White House spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany said in a briefing, "If necessary, President Donald Trump will use the Riot Control Act."

This was the White House's response to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper's earlier briefing that morning, where he stated that military deployment for protest suppression should be a last resort, used only in the most urgent and serious situations, adding, "We are not in such a situation now. I do not support the invocation of the Riot Control Act."

Secretary Esper also asserted that the death of Floyd was "a horrific crime. The police officers present at the scene must be held accountable for murder."

He further commented on the low-altitude flight of military helicopters over the Washington DC protest site on the evening of the 1st, saying, "It did not seem safe. A thorough investigation is needed into who gave such orders and why."

Secretary Esper's remarks show a significant difference from President Donald Trump's position, who expressed satisfaction with the protest suppression in Washington DC on the 1st. Esper had also accompanied Trump when he visited St. John's Church outside the White House for a photo event with a Bible after Trump warned of invoking the Riot Control Act on the 1st.

Esper's statements have even raised the possibility of his dismissal. Spokesperson McEnany stated, "Secretary Esper is still the Secretary of Defense." However, she left room by adding, "If the President loses trust in him, you will know about it in the future."

Bloomberg News reported, "President Trump and other senior aides were angered that Secretary Esper publicly opposed the deployment of active-duty troops that Trump proposed, viewing the Defense Secretary's remarks as going too far."

The Washington Post (WP) reported that "the head of the Department of Defense has broken with President Trump over the use of active-duty troops," stating that Secretary Esper's remarks have caused a rift with President Trump. CNN also reported that after Esper made statements severing ties with Trump over protest response, he found himself in an uneasy situation.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press (AP) cited military sources on the same day, reporting that troops deployed to Washington DC for protest response are returning to their bases.