How Trump's "Orders" in his speech today are likely to go down

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he 'thanked' the president, but told him: "A posture of a force on the ground is unsustainable militarily, it's unsustainable socially because it’s the antitheses of how we live"

— Molly O'Toole (@mollymotoole) June 1, 2020

Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA) gets emotional when talking about Trump's calls to "dominate" protesters: "When the country needed compassion ... it was simply nowhere to be found.” pic.twitter.com/M9LIzdgPUj

— The Recount (@therecount) June 1, 2020

.@GavinNewsom also expresses unease for Trump “dominate” rhetoric https://t.co/8jZXOYZPfd

— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) June 1, 2020

Terrific point from @NYGovCuomo on CNN: The protesters we all just saw aren't looters. They're young people who are full of idealism and want to make a statement that's wholly legitimate. We all saw that on national TV, and Trump's magical lying powers can't make that disappear.

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) June 1, 2020

And the church he walked to?  It's not a prop, or a national monument.  It's a church, with a pastor and real people with real compassion.

Disgusting. Despicable.

Trump can take endless field-trips, but he can’t weaponize the Episcopal Church against the American people.

Here’s what @StJohnLafayette itself wrote to parishioners today. Here’s how @iamepiscopalian has addressed these issues: https://t.co/AtbfaSli3Q. https://t.co/K0Eq5GqXIc

— Lucy Caldwell (@lucymcaldwell) June 1, 2020

There is so much wrong w/ this picture, I’m enraged. Using federal troops w/ tear gas & rubber bullets to clear out a peaceful demonstration so Trump can have a photo-op at a church. He desecrates the Bible. He desecrates a Christian church. & he desecrates the presidency. Shame pic.twitter.com/xGNDHiDPL0

— James J. Zogby (@jjz1600) June 1, 2020

"The perimeter was expanded to help enforce the 7 p.m. curfew in the same area where rioters attempted to burn down one of our nation’s most historic churches the night before," White House spokesman Judd Deere says, when asked if White House asked to clear park for photo opp.

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) June 1, 2020

At what cost?

Tear gas is not benign. It can cause chemical burns, corneal burns, respiratory distress and even death. Just a little reminder of the effects of what the president ordered to be unleashed onto peaceful protesters. https://t.co/bNZaKRhCIV

— Andrea R MD (@AndreaR9Md) June 1, 2020

There is no bottom. I’m fucking speechless. Follow @ellievhall @pdmcleod —-> https://t.co/M2DxgLpxfx

— Kate Nocera (@KateNocera) June 1, 2020

"He is at this time transporting large Armies...to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."

-- July 4, 1776

— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) June 1, 2020

By the way, Trump in the Rose Garden tonight pretty much called for what Sen. Cotton has been calling for:

It is essential to understand what @SenTomCotton is proposing. He wants battle hardened active duty US Army combat divisions deployed against the American people with shoot to kill orders. It is immoral, illegal and would obliterate the legitimacy of US values. There is no war https://t.co/y8iDr0TVeA

— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 1, 2020

Trump at least thinks that's what he's going to get.  He pretty clearly said if the looting doesn't stop, the shooting starts.  He warned that "thousands" of "heavily armed soldiers" will be dispersed in D.C. (bullshit, as I said earlier).  Oh, and his emphasis, which no one is noting yet, on protecting our "2nd Amendment rights."  As if life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and equal protection of the laws, and due process, and freedom of speech and assembly, were secondary to the right to keep and bear arms.  Truly he thinks from that right all others flow.  Or more likely he doesn't think at all, he just knows a hot button and when to push it.

And still the question remains:  how does he plan to pull this off?  Sign an EO and retreat to the bunker for another night?  Turn the lights off so nobody can see the fortress he's in?  What a pitiful excuse for a President he is.

From a former WH official: "I'm not sure @realDonaldTrump didn't just make all of this worse." pic.twitter.com/g2pMyeLIWc

— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) June 1, 2020

To emphasize, the Insurrection Act requires a formal proclamation in order to be invoked. Trump *threatened* to use it if state National Guards aren’t effective, but vague threats and ambiguous speeches don’t cut it. He wants to look tough without actually taking responsibility. https://t.co/u5Jrmwluk0

— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) June 1, 2020

Remember how long it took him to finally and actually "invoke 'P'!"?  Invoking the Insurrection Act will take even longer.  Actually implementing it will be an act beyond his ability.  Which doesn't mean it won't be bad.

On one hand, we just saw Trump level a dangerous threat to unleash the military on US citizens. On the other, we saw a madman so deranged that he'll never be able to deliver on any such threat.

What's clear is Trump has lost his mind entirely & is no longer fit to be president.

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) June 1, 2020