Trump threatens to get involved in NYC unrest

President Trump on Wednesday threatened to intervene in New York City if officials did not crack down on protests that have devolved into looting and vandalism in recent nights.

“If they don’t get their act straightened out I will solve it. I’ll solve it fast,” Trump told Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio.

The president has in the past 24 hours harangued New York leaders about activating the National Guard to quell demonstrations in New York City. He argued that using guardsmen was an effective tactic at restoring order in Minneapolis and in Washington, D.C., where the president mobilized military personnel Monday night.

“We had no problem at all last night,” Trump said. “Maybe it doesn’t sound good to say it, but you have to have a dominant force. You need law and order.”

Protests have persisted nationwide over the last week in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes.

The protests have generally been peaceful, but demonstrators in some cities have engaged in looting and vandalism. New York City saw a rash of break-ins at businesses on Monday night, prompting officials to impose an earlier curfew.

Still, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) has resisted calling in the National Guard.

“We do not need, nor do we think it’s wise, for the National Guard to be in New York City — nor any armed forces,” he said Tuesday. “For anyone who needs a history lesson: When outside armed forces go into communities, no good comes of it.”

The issue has become a point of contention among New York leaders as Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Tuesday criticized de Blasio for his handling of the situation.

The president has ridiculed state and local leaders as “weak,” urging them to “dominate” their streets and clamp down on protests. Trump has made an example of Washington, D.C., which does not have the same rights as states to reject the National Guard or other troop deployments.