Trump’s Week In Review: Condemnation And Chaos

This week Trump was rebuked for politicizing speeches to uniformed service members and the Boy Scouts, he was criticized by Republicans for his transgender ban, called on by members of his conservative base to fire his communications director over a vulgar tirade, and blasted by police departments for endorsing police brutality.

 

Military officers were appalled by Trump encouraging service members to lobby for political policies in a speech on the USS Gerald Ford.

Washington Post: “Shortly after his tweet storm, which started just after 6:30 a.m. and lasted nearly two hours, Trump flew to Norfolk, where he injected a small dose of partisan politics into the ceremonial commissioning of a new naval warship.”

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary Of Defense Andrew Exum: “For that reason, former U.S. military officers were particularly appalled when the current president of the United States, in a speech commissioning the U.S. military’s latest and most powerful war machine, encouraged his uniformed audience to call their representatives to lobby for the president’s policies—including his budget increasing defense spending at the expense of other domestic priorities.”

 

The head of the Boy Scouts was forced to apologize for the political rhetoric in Trump’s speech to the organization.

Boy Scouts Of America Chief Executive, Michael Surbaugh: “I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree. That was never our intent. The invitation for the sitting U.S. President to visit the National Jamboree is a long-standing tradition that has been extended to the leader of our nation that has had a Jamboree during his term since 1937.”

 

Republican lawmakers were critical of Trump’s decision to ban transgender service members.

FiveThirtyEight: Headline: “Republican Senators Aren’t Embracing Trump’s Transgender Military Ban

Huffington Post: “Trump’s decision seemed to be a move to appeal to the GOP’s conservative base. Yet, many of the Republicans who swiftly spoke out against it have tended to support socially conservative policies.  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, was one of the last to support overturning ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ which previously banned openly LGBTQ people from serving in the military.”

 

Conservatives questioned Trump’s hiring of Scaramucci after his vulgar tirade to the New Yorker, and called on Trump to fire him.

Republican Congressman Mo Brooks: “Republican Rep. Mo Brooks said Friday that White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci isn’t adding stability to the White House and that he would have fired Scaramucci for his expletive-laden interview with The New Yorker…  ‘He’s off the map. For him to use the kind of vulgar language he used with respect to Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon—both conservatives and liberals in the White House—I just don’t get why Donald Trump would put him, Mr. Scaramucci, into that position, given his rather reckless style,’ Brooks said on Fox News radio’s ‘Todd Starnes Show.’”

Evangelical Activist Bob Vander Plaats: “Bob Vander Plaats, an evangelical activist in Iowa, is urging President Trump to fire Anthony Scaramucci, the new White House communications director, for unleashing an expletive-filled tirade against Trump administration officials.  ‘Mr. President, it is time to look in the mirror, accept responsibility, apologize to the American people, and declare an end to this behavior immediately,’ Vander Plaats wrote Friday on the website of the Family Leader, a social conservative organization he runs.”

 

Police departments across the country quickly rebuked Trump’s endorsement of police brutality in a speech about gang violence.

CNN: “He praised the ‘rough’ officers of ICE and suggested that police shouldn’t protect the heads of suspects when they’re arrested. ‘When you see these thugs thrown into the back of a paddy wagon. You see them thrown in, rough. I said, ‘Please don’t be too nice,’ ‘ Trump said, mentioning observing the prisoner’s heads being shielded. ‘I said, ‘You can take the hand away.’ ‘”

Washington Post: “Police leaders across the country moved quickly to distance themselves from — or to outright condemn — President Trump’s statements about ‘roughing up’ people who’ve been arrested.”

Executive Director Of The Police Executive Research Forum: “‘It’s the wrong message,’ Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, told Washington radio station WTOP while speaking of the trust-building work that departments have undertaken since King’s beating. ‘The last thing we need is a green light from the president of the United States for officers to use unnecessary force.’”

Burlington Police: “It is our sworn duty to protect people from unjustified violence and harm, no matter who disagrees

Suffolk County PD: “As a department, we do not and will not tolerate roughing up of prisoners.” 

Gainesville Police: “The @POTUS made remarks today that endorsed and condoned policy brutality. GPD rejects these remarks and continues to serve with respect.

Houston Police Chief: “To be clear, inappropriate attempt at gallows humor does not reflect values of respect & commitment to constitutional policing of profession

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole: “Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole late Friday night released a statement that, in part, addresses remarks made by President Donald Trump where he encourages police to treat criminal suspects roughly… ‘Seattle’s police officers have embraced reform and have worked incredibly hard to build community trust. We do not intend to go backwards.’”