Trump: Portland Rioters are 'Really Sick, Disturbed People'
Since the death of George Floyd Portland has seen nightly violent protests
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As Portland sees another night of unrest, President Donald Trump said if only local leaders sought help, the federal government could very quickly put a stop to it.
“We will go in and stop the problems in Portland in 24 hours,” the president, according to OregonLive.com.
“We’re supposed to be asked.”
Since the death of George Floyd, Portland has seen nightly violent protests.
Most recently, Antifa mobs attacked a police station in a suburban area of Portland earlier this week.
During the assault, rioters attempted to burn down the police precinct and tried to run cops over with a truck.
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Leftists stormed the Portland Police Department’s East Precinct, which is in a residential area of the city.
Portland’s Black police chief blasted far-left groups saying protests have been undermined by rioting, destruction, and assaults against law enforcement officers.
Trump agreed:
“These are really sick, disturbed people,” he said of the rioters, The Washington Times reported.
The President also praised federal agents who were recently deployed to Portland to protect a federal courthouse saying they had done a “fantastic job."
WATCH:
But Trump added the agents would not go beyond guarding the courthouse unless asked by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown or Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, OregonLive.com reported.
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Trump then questioned Wheeler's credibility:
“Mayor Wheeler has abdicated his duty and surrendered his city to the mob,” Trump said.
Wheeler finally spoke out to condemn the violent leftist rioting that has been ravaging his city for months.
“When you commit arson with an accelerant in an attempt to burn down a building that is occupied by people who you have intentionally trapped inside, you are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder," the far-left mayor said during a press conference with Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell.
Portland police Chief Chuck Lovell condemned the rioting, saying it was accomplishing nothing toward racial justice.
"Portlanders need to send a strong message that enough is enough," Lovell told reporters at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, according to KGW-TV in Portland.
"This is not forwarding the goals that are going to lead to better outcomes for people of color. This movement is really powerful, but the violence has taken away from it. ... This is not what Portland is about. This is not what we need in our city."
Meanwhile, Trump scoffed at the idea that rioters might think their actions were helping them achieve their goals.
“They look at Portland as a thing that they want,” the president said.
“That’s what they want. Why? Who knows, doesn’t matter. It’s a different thinking, but it’s a mess.”
