Ex-National Guard Honcho Condemns Trump’s LA Riots ‘Stunt’ to Fox News: ‘Bad for All Americans’

(Sipa via AP Images)

Former acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, Retired Major General Randy Manner, is openly criticizing President Donald Trump for sending National Guard to Los Angeles against the wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In a statement reported by Fox News Pentagon reporter Jennifer Griffin, Major General Manner condemned Trump’s actions as “bad for all Americans concerned about freedom of speech and states’ rights.”

Ret. Major General Manner told Griffin:

The President’s federal deployment of the National Guard over the official wishes of a governor is bad for all Americans concerned about freedom of speech and states rights. The governor has the authority and ability to respond to the civil disturbances with law enforcement capabilities within his state, augmented as necessary by requesting law enforcement assistance from other governors. There are over a million badged and trained members of law enforcement in this country for the governor to ask for help if he needs it. While this is presently a legal order, it tramples the governor’s rights and obligations to protect his people. This is an inappropriate use of the National Guard and is not warranted.

Griffin posted the comment on her social media feed, but has not yet reported these comments on the Fox News broadcast as of Monday, 8 a.m.

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