Trump Makes Stunning Claim He Can Send ‘The Navy’ to US Cities: ‘Do Whatever I Want!’

President Donald Trump made the stunning claim that he can send any military branch he wants — including “The Navy” — to U.S. cities as part of a crackdown he has tried out using the National Guard.

Trump has already sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles, Memphis, and Washington, D.C., and is trying to send them Portland and Chicago amid pushback from state and local officials and widespread criticism. He has claimed that the Insurrection Act gives him “unquestioned power” to order such deployments.

While speaking to troops in Japan this week, Trump said “If we need more than the National Guard, we’ll send more than the National Guard.”

The president was asked to clarify that statement as he gaggled with reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, and obliquely cited the Insurrection Act as he claimed the power to use every branch of the military on U.S. soil:

KATIE ROGERS: What did you say last night when you said you were prepared to send more than the National Guard into American cities?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Sure, I would do that if it was necessary. You know, if it were necessary, I’d do that.

But it hasn’t been necessary. We’re doing a great job without that. But yeah, if it was necessarily.

As you know, I’m allowed to do that…

KATIE ROGERS: Do you mean other branches of the military you would send in? If it were,.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Who are you with?

KATIE ROGERS: The New York Times.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: That’s very good, very good. Well, if you write it correctly, I’ll give you the answer. But, you know, if I want to enact a certain act, I’m allowed to do it routinely.

And other, about 50 percent of presidents have used that, as you know. And I’d be allowed to whatever I want.

But we haven’t chosen to do that because we’re very well, we’re doing very well without it.

But I’d allowed to that, you understand, that the courts wouldn’t get involved, nobody would get involved.

And I could send the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, I could save, send anybody I wanted. But I haven’t done that because we’re doing so well without it.

Watch above via The White House.

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