Trump’s New Protest Rule

President Trump says Democratic-led cities can’t just expect the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to swoop in and save the day during protests. No, they’ve got to ask nicely – and that means saying please.

At a recent event, Trump claimed he’s told DHS Secretary (not Kristi Noem, by the way – she’s the governor of South Dakota) that they won’t intervene unless local leaders request help. But don’t worry, he’s still got federal buildings covered… as long as they’re not the ones starting the trouble.

The Conditions

It’s not entirely clear what constitutes an ‘ask’ in Trump’s book. Do cities need to send a formal letter? Make a phone call? Send a tweet? The president’s instructions to DHS are about as clear as mud.

What is clear, though, is that Trump’s trying to shift the blame for protest chaos onto Democratic mayors and governors. It’s a clever (if not entirely original) tactic, but it won’t fool everyone.