Senate Minority Leader tells Meet the Press that President’s action is ‘indefensible’ and ‘so against the American way,’ calls for Republican support on preventative legislation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) condemned President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy federal troops to Portland, Oregon, calling the move “indefensible” and a dangerous departure from American tradition during an interview on Meet the Press this morning.
Speaking with moderator Kristen Welker, Schumer attacked the President for ignoring the wishes of local and state authorities. “What normal presidents would do would be say, ‘Oh, is there a problem here?’ Call up the governor of the state, Oregon, and say, ‘How can we help you get this done?'” Schumer said. “What he’s done instead… the Governor of Oregon said, ‘We don’t need you.’ And yet he comes in and brings in these troops.”
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The Democratic leader stated that the use of military or federal forces for local law enforcement contradicts core American principles.
“This is so against the American way,” Schumer insisted. “We do not have our military do local law enforcement.” He referenced a previous attempt to use federal troops in Los Angeles, which he noted “backfired” and was “thrown out” by a lower court.
When asked by Welker if Congress could do anything to stop the deployment, Schumer was unequivocal. “Yes,” he replied, outlining a two-pronged approach.
“First, we will fight it in the courts,” he said, citing impending legal challenges.
Second, Schumer announced his intention to pursue legislative action, expressing hope for bipartisan cooperation. “I would hope, Kristen, that some of our Republican colleagues… seeing— I know they’re loyal to Trump and does whatever he wants. But this is so far stepping over the line that I’d hope some of them would join us in legislation to prevent it from happening. We have such a proposal. I’m part of it.”
The President’s order to send federal troops to Portland to address ongoing protests and property damage has met with fierce resistance from Oregon’s Governor and other local officials, setting the stage for a new constitutional and political showdown with Congressional Democrats.
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