Acting DHS head: Protests largely peaceful due to federal law enforcement presence

Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf defended the Trump administration’s response to protests over the death of George Floyd, saying on “Fox News Sunday” that demonstrations have been overwhelmingly peaceful over the past several days because of the presence of federal law enforcement.

Pressed by Fox News’ Chris Wallace about a heated call between President Trump and state governors in which the president called on them to “dominate” the protesters, Wolf responded: “I think it’s important to keep in mind when the president made those comments we were seeing cities burned we were seeing looting and rioting that was out of control.”

“Over the last several days we’ve seen that violent protest and that violent looting and rioting diminish. It’s not by happenstance, it’s not by chance, it’s because we took early action,” Wolf responded. “Can you imagine if we had not done anything, if we had not done anything, if we had not increased our police presence in the D.C. area and cities across the country? The rioting and looting would continue.”

The federal government has also been broadly condemned for clearing peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square ahead of President Trump’s trip to a nearby church for a photo op.  Park Police initially said tear gas was not used before walking back the denial.

Wallace on Sunday noted that while state National Guard troops are traditionally brought in during such scenarios, a White House proposal to deploy active-duty military was the point of contention among many during the protests.

“From a law enforcement perspective, I would say making sure that we keep all the tools in or toolbox ready and available is very, very important,” Wolf responded. “We don’t want to take anything off the table.”

Wallace also pressed Wolf on comments from both state officials and Attorney General Bill Barr blaming looting and rioting on far-left organizers and anarchists from outside those communities, noting that an analysis of arrests thus far does not support the claim.

Wolf claimed that the early data were based on “the arrests that we make onsite,” suggesting that further law enforcement actions would bear out the claims in coming weeks. He did not offer further specifics.