House Democrat: Trump ‘militarization’ of cities ‘violates everything that we believe in’

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday denounced President Trump’s “militarization” of cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, claiming it “violates everything that we believe in.”

MSNBC’s Alicia Menendez asked Goldman if GOP lawmakers are as “unanimously in favor” of Trump’s federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) as the president seemingly believes.

“I would really, really hope not, because the militarization of our cities and our domestic law enforcement violates the Posse Comitatus law and violates everything that we believe in [as] Americans,” Goldman responded.

“But just as I thought there would be Republicans who would stand up for their constituents and prevent them from losing health care, prevent them from losing food benefits, prevent million — billions of dollars of offshore wind investment in their own districts, I thought they would stand up for their own districts, and they didn’t,” the New York Democrat told “The Weeknight” host, referring to provisions included in the massive spending and tax bill signed into law last month.

Trump earlier this week deployed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital and declared a crime emergency in the District, giving the administration temporary authority to take control over the local police force under the city’s Home Rule Act.

The president on Wednesday told reporters that he will seek “long-term extensions” from Congress to lengthen the initiative.

Democrats, from local officials to members of the House and Senate, have decried the move as “unnecessary” and “unlawful,” as data shows the crime rate shrinking.

He also ordered National Guard troops and some U.S. Marines to go to Los Angeles earlier this year when protests spread throughout the city — and beyond — in opposition to the White House’s robust immigration agenda, including an uptick in detainments and deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Dan Goldman — heir to the Levi Strauss & Co. fortune and one of the wealthiest members of Congress —  is an out-of-touch elitist who has no idea what problems average Americans deal with on a daily basis, including the crime crisis plaguing American cities,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in an emailed statement to The Hill.

“Instead of going on MSDNC to spew his liberal talking points, he should go talk to the countless victims of DC crime who are celebrating the President’s bold actions to address violent crime and Make DC SAFE Again,” Jackson added.

Updated at 3:34 p.m. EDT