Donald Trump will order his Gestapo goons to invade even more American cities

President Donald Trump arrives at Walter Reed to visit with wounded military members

I’ve been trying not to get too nerdy and nostalgic for the West Wing, but the Posse Comitatus Act is a real thing which is still relevant today. It’s a 19th century act which says that the federal government cannot use the national military branches to enforce domestic policies within the US. Basically, a president can’t send in the Marines to Minnesota to break up a protest. There are exceptions, of course, like in moments of natural disasters or terrorist attacks, but even then, a governor has to specifically authorize the federal government to send in federal agents or military. All of this to say, Donald Trump cannot simply “send” federal authorities to American cities to break up overwhelmingly peaceful protests. But that’s exactly what he thinks he can do:

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will “surge” federal law enforcement officers to Chicago and other American cities, despite resistance from local leaders, as he adopts a hardline “law and order” mantle ahead of November’s election. In making the move, Trump is wading further into an effort to portray Democrats as weak on crime and unable to protect the citizens of places where they are in charge. He has ordered federal agents to tamp down on protests in Portland, Oregon, leading to chaotic tableaux and reports of unmarked vehicles snatching people off the streets. And he has warned he may order federal officers into other states and cities he deems insufficiently policed, even if governors and mayors in those places don’t ask for help.

His attention in recent days has focused on Chicago, whose Democratic mayor said Tuesday she would not allow “Donald Trump’s troops” into her city. Before he became president, Trump once railed against his predecessor for high crime rates in Chicago, but he now blames local officials for the scourge.

Using ominous rhetoric and dark language to describe cities run by Democrats as rife with crime and violence, Trump suggested Wednesday he had little option but to take steps those leaders haven’t to save innocent lives.

Trump was announcing the expansion of the Operation Legend initiative, a Justice Department program first established in Kansas City earlier this month that utilizes federal law enforcement officers from the FBI, US Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to combat violent crime. Trump said he was dispatching additional federal law enforcement into other American cities, including Chicago, to tamp down on “heinous crimes of violence.”

“We’ll work every single day to restore public safety, protect our nation’s children and bring violent perpetrators to justice,” he said. “We’ve been doing it and you’ve been seeing what’s happening all around the country. We’ve just started this process and frankly we have no choice but to get involved.”

[From CNN]

This has apparently already been happening in Kansas City and, as we’ve been seeing for weeks, Portland, Oregon. The situation in Portland is so dire – the “Wall of Moms” has been tear-gassed and attacked, unarmed, peaceful protesters have been snatched by federal agents – of some sort – and shoved in unmarked cars and vans, then unlawfully detained without being charged with any crimes. These federal agents are being called Trump’s Gestapo. It’s not a joke name and all of this is actually happening and it’s horrifying.

(It is a little bit funny to see people try to blame Joe Biden for Trump’s Gestapo though?)

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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49 Responses to “Donald Trump will order his Gestapo goons to invade even more American cities”

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  1. Darla says:

    I’m terrified this is all about keeping people from voting in NOV. By intimidation. They are occupying the blue cities. This is really bad. Of course republican “follow the CONSTITUTION!!!!!” voters and elected officials love it. They were never about the constitution and they are not patriots. They want to hurt and punish and imprison and even kill, black people, other POC, feminists, and liberals. They hate us and they want to eliminate us.

    • Lizzie says:

      I agree it is about the elections but by tipping his hand it can all go to court now and stop this illegal kidnapping of unarmed Americans.
      The military flat out said they will not do this as it is unconstitutional.

    • Larelyn says:

      Quick clarification in KC – The KCMO murder rate has been off the charts this year, and the KCPD are not overseen by the city, but rather the state of Missouri. Mayor Lucas (D) of KCMO went to Governor Parsons (R) asking for assistance; and Trump’s administration stepped in with Operation Legend, making available more FBI, CIA, ATF-type agents to help with violent crime.

      Then, just this week, Trump announced he was sending more agents to six cities (KCMO included) to crack down on protesters and rioting. This is NOT Operation Legend, and Mayor Lucas is not supporting this surge! I’ve watched the MoGov misstep with the Trump virus, and now this. And he’s all about the constitution… hm. I feel for the folks in Missouri, considering they they got Parsons by default instead of by vote. Mayor Lucas is an awesome guy, and I hope he is given the support he needs to handle this unconstitutional barrage.

    • Lisa says:

      Hes the new Kim Jong Il!

  2. Rapunzel says:

    And all the morons whining about the government fascism of masks mandates and calling politicians Nazis for wanting to keep people from dying of a novel virus are like…. cool beans. And the rest of us are like… isn’t this what y’all been stockpiling your guns for?

    This mofo is violating the Geneva convention nightly now. It’s disgusting and he needs to be tried as soon as Joe Biden is sworn in.

    • Mac says:

      Remember Ammon Bundy? Fun fact, he lives in Oregon. Where is his militia now?

      • MM2 says:

        As a lifelong Oregonian, I am no Bundy fan. I despise him. And last week he announced that he is joining the BLM movement, so there’s that. Also, the white supremacist Proud Boys & their militia have been here in Portland, as provocateurs- starting fights, breaking stuff & getting tips from Police of when to go inside before the tear gas starts.

      • Nic919 says:

        Yes. He was squatting in federal land and they did nothing to move him. But he’s white so I guess the laws don’t apply.

    • Esmom says:

      Also, the people wringing their hands in faux outrage over the violence in Chicago are the same people who can’t acknowledge that Black lives matter. They also dismiss any talk of gun control. They hear and repeat tidbits from right wing media but don’t even bother to try to connect anything. And funny how it was Obama’s fault when he was POTUS but now it’s our Black female mayor’s fault and not Trump’s. Their hypocritical, disingenuous narratives are bullsh^t.

      The impoverished communities of color in Chicago are disproportionally affected by gun violence. The mayor knows this, of course. This is why she is pouring financial resources into those communities to finally give them some support. And she won her election in large part because of her vow to crack down on police brutality and enact serious reform. The police are retaliating against her at every opportunity, and now they have Trump’s support. It’s crazy making.

      • Anna says:

        Exactly. And tbh, I feel like a lot of people are disrespecting the mask rule and not wearing masks in part because they don’t want to take orders from a Black lesbian. These kinds of racism, misogyny and misogynoir are part of the fabric of this country, and it’s been quite telling to see how people speak about her. (And I’m not excusing the fact that she comes from police so her alliances are divided, imo, but regardless, there is something going on with that here for sure…)

  3. Betsy says:

    I CANNOT WITH THIS ANYMORE.

    I’ve heard from commenters here and many other places that “both sides” are equally bad. That “both sides” are equally as extreme. That “both sides” are the same. And I’m going to hope that people finally, finally realize that that is not only not true, but is an outright lie intended to provide the right wing extremists – who at this point are basically just the party – cover. There is no both sides here. There is one side, one political party that is undermining America in a thousand ways, crapping on the right guaranteed to us in the Constitution. America has never lived up to her promises – slavery is baked right into the cake, and women still aren’t given the protections that men are, to name a pair of issues – but she HAS promise. She HAS an idea. And only one party is ignoring that department heads need to be confirmed, that we can’t just send federal troops in wherever, that we can’t just use the same forces to attack our opponents, that we can’t use this kind of force….

    • Lizzie says:

      No, both sides are not equally bad. I’ve seen unarmed people being beaten and thrown into unmarked vehicles by, let’s face it, secret police.
      FYI, Portland protesters should start wearing camo to confuse the secret police.

    • MM2 says:

      Agreed. Let’s go back in time & see “both sides” of Selma. People said that then too & they showed what side they were on- the wrong one.

    • Nic919 says:

      Going to go back to Sarah Kendzior who called this last year. Dump has no interest in governing, but ruling and the GOP support A one party state. This is fascism and the DHS needs to be disbanded now. All cities need to use the courts to stop them while they still can. The GOP as a party must be purged for allowing this to happen.

  4. Lightpurple says:

    The Mayor of Boston has said Trump’s Secret Police are not welcome here.

    Our mail-in ballot applications arrived yesterday; we filled them out and sent them in this morning.

  5. Marjorie says:

    If you can, read Gary Hart’s op-ed in today’s NY Times. Trump is about to use super-secret extra-constitutional laws to install a fascist dictatorship.

    • Anna says:

      Known this since before he took power. Anyone who’s lived in a dictatorship or military regime saw this shit coming a mile away, years ago. I am truly afraid to be here. I’ve been afraid but now I’m really afraid. Secret police, people being disappeared, and now most of us can’t even leave our state, let alone travel abroad. Those are the makings of fascist dictatorship. He’s already said he won’t give up the presidency, and no matter how many court cases over the last few years, he is never indicted. I’m really not sure why or how it is that he can conduct such pure evil and be so illegal on every front and never be prosecuted. How is that even possible? That emboldens him and his group, and if we are not careful, this country is going to look very different by next year and I pray for us all.

      • Darla says:

        If he somehow gets another four years, as soon as Canada allows Americans to cross again, I am moving to Toronto. I’m done. I give this to Nov and then I’m done. I’ll do whatever I have to do, I’ve looked into it and it’s really not that hard for me.

      • Jaded says:

        @Darla – Canada welcomes you!

      • LaraW" says:

        @Anna – this is not directed at you, but my reaction to some of the comments you made, which are comments that have been echoed in many places, not only on this site. I am frustrated by it, and what I’ve written below are my thoughts.

        1. Trump can say whatever he likes about not giving up the presidency. You need military support to stage a coup; he does not have military support. He can rally all his white supremacist followers to blockade the White House but when he is not the elected, legitimate president of the country, he has no authority to command any kind of militarized organization. At that point, he is a terrorist, plain and simple.

        2. Trump was impeached. He was indicted. That is what the House did. He was prosecuted before the Senate. The Senate, however, voted to acquit him. Was the outcome just? No. But the procedural law was followed. There are many, many things broken about the US government. Trump has exposed exactly how much power the executive has and how urgently Congress needs to curtail that power. He’s shown how deeply this country has come to rely on the courts to mete out justice, rather than seeking to change things through legislation. He’s shown how much power the federal government holds and the limits of state power, but also how important it is to preserve those boundaries.

        3. You want change? Stop praying. Stop being afraid. Start participating in local government and keeping your congressional representatives accountable. Go visit their website and read their congressional record. Write a letter. Join Biden’s presidential campaign. Join your local congressperson, governor, attorney general, judge, sheriff, town commissioner, whoever – join their campaign, pay attention to their talking points and discussions of key issues. Stop expecting the good intentions of “those in power” to save you. Democracy’s first premise is that its citizens participate.

        4. This is not pure evil. This is a fight. Roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and join it. You’re tired, afraid, and don’t know how much longer you can handle it. Well, welcome to the lives of black people.

      • LaraW" says:

        delete

  6. Astrid says:

    Democratic Governor of Michigan Whitmer has also said no to Gestapo swarming in Detroit.

  7. Cassandra says:

    So how do we get the UN to supervise our elections?

    Like, joking but actually not joking, I would feel a lot more comfortable with neutral supervision. Not that it would happen 😞

  8. jferber says:

    Marjorie, “extra-Constitutional” is un-Constitutional. There is no “superseding” (Trump’s word) the Constitution. This trump plague is a secondary infection of the Corona Virus (or the opposite). No question he’s killed thousands for refusing to step up to his presidential duties to fight the virus nationally. Instead, he’s done everything he can to make the numbers go up in sickness and death. This bastard. Fuck him. Get out of our country, already!

  9. Ariel says:

    How do we stop this?
    How does every person in this country not see what is coming- a 3rd world dictatorship full of corruption and murder of anyone who speaks out.
    I realize the trump supporters stupidly think he won’t turn on them- but, of course, he will.
    And it will be too late.
    We are early nazi germany in the 1930s. And we are just as stupid, and overall racist, as they were. And millions will pay the price.

    • LaraW" says:

      Okay. If millions will pay the price, are you willing to fight to prevent it? Or are you okay with millions paying the price, as long you’re not one of those million?

      • Tiffany :) says:

        Why would you think Ariel is “okay with millions paying the price” when their 1st line asks how do we stop this? Did you read their comment?

      • LaraW” says:

        Yes, I read their comment. And I followed up with a legitimate question- what are they willing to do to stop it? Because what followed their question were a series of dire predictions as to what might happen if things do not change- not an idea, offer, or discussion on how to help keep those prophecies from coming to fruition.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        Yes, they didn’t offer a solution because they were asking for guidance on what to do.

      • LaraW” says:

        If you’re referring to the political process in general- write letters and emails. People assume it’s not going to make a difference or get read, but consider this- everyone knows that Brett Kavanaugh is a rapist because one woman wrote one letter.

        What do you think lobbying is? Some kind of sexy Hollywood picture of senators schmoozing with lawyers over shrimp and cocktails? A lot of it is plain and simple letter writing, with a DC lawyer who keeps an eye on the congressional calendar and hearing schedule for any relevant legislation, advises the client on the implications of that pending legislation, knows which congressperson on which committee to write to, when to write, and how to write it persuasively. Be polite, do your research, write sincerely, follow up, and keep doing it. Congressional staffers are there for a reason.

        Put in the effort to participate in the democratic process to advocate for yourself and what you believe in. This nation acts like the presidency is the only thing that matters- that thinking is one of the reasons we have this problem with executive power. When one person is supposed to represent the will of the people, it’s that much easier for that one person to claim the right to rule. This government was never meant to function with a hobbled congress, an enormously powerful executive, and an overburdened judicial system.

        So hold yourself accountable as a citizen in a democratic nation and use your voice and vote. Having a voice and having a vote are two things which are often conflated. But they are different- use them both.

      • lisanne says:

        Your first post sounds very militant, but your solutions are not. People are concerned that their voice and vote will be meaningless because militarized, fascist-like groups will overturn our democracy.

  10. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    He’s willfully creating a civil war. For an election.

  11. nicegirl says:

    I’m in tears reading this post Thank you ladies seriously

  12. nicegirl says:

    Our Portland mayor was also tear gassed last night while peacefully appearing at the protest. The MAYOR

    • Rosemary says:

      He’s also the police commissioner, and 30 minutes after he left the ppb declared a riot and worked hand in hand with the feds against the protesters. He had 5 security guards with him while he was being gassed. This was an obvious pr stunt, and WarCrimes Wheeler is so synonymous with tear gas at this point that hearing him lie and gaslight at the JC last night almost made me puke. Fk Ted Wheeler.

      • Rosemary says:

        He’s teargassed me several times while I peacefully appeared at protests too. I’ve been teargassed far more by ppb than the feds at this point. He doesn’t get to point the finger at the feds while he’s doing the exact same thing.

  13. HeatherBoBeather says:

    I live in Albuquerque and we are one of the cities he’s sending his secret police too. It’s terrifying, honestly. Our crime isn’t crazy (we have crime, mostly property crime), our protest have been very peaceful for the most part – we have a Democrat mayor and governor who have questioned Trump’s leadership ability. I’m worried about how all of this is going to play out.

  14. Sportlady20 says:

    I’m in Oregon, I’d protest but I’ve got a bum knee. This scares me no other administration has ever gone about it like this. I think governors should deploy the national guard to arrest trumps gestapo.

    • Rosemary says:

      Hi Sportlady! Have you heard of PDX Disabled Comrade Collective? @PDXAccesible on Twitter. They work to create safe spaces for alternatively abled protesters in Portland. They offer protest buddies, rides to and from the FC, resting stations near medic centers at the protests for people to recuperate. No one should be denied their right to freedom of speech.

  15. Mina_Esq says:

    Trump is showing us that government has to buy into democracy and follow its own rules. There is nothing we can do when the government decides to disregard the law, and it’s effing scary.

  16. mara says:

    He is sending his goons to my hometown of Cleveland. There is no need for this, and it’s only going to cause chaos. There aren’t any violent protests going on here, so I am not even sure what the hell his point is.

  17. LaraW” says:

    Nitpick- posse comitatus only applies to the military, not federal agents. The individuals who have been involved in these “arrests” are mostly by Border Patrol, Bureau of Prisons, and Federal Marshals. All of these agencies are under the executive branch, which is how he was able to circumvent PCA and the Insurrection Act. This situation is not as cut and dry as we’d like because he used federal agents, not the military.

    Strictly from a 4th Amendment point of view, the citizens’ rights have absolutely been violated. However, Barr clearly isn’t going to prosecute the federal agents responsible (he probably was the one to think of this loophole in the first place); that leaves it to state attorneys general to bring charges, which in turn opens up a completely different can of worms having to do with state versus federal power.

  18. adastraperaspera says:

    Bill Barr came up with this “invade with federal troops” stunt back in 1989. He’s more than thrilled to have the opportunity to use it now to win the election for Trump. This article explains his evil plan:

    Portland’s Pretext: Barr’s long history manipulating law to put federal forces on U.S. streets
    https://www.justsecurity.org/71512/portlands-pretext-barrs-long-history-manipulating-law-to-put-federal-forces-on-u-s-streets/

    “Barr bragged in his 2001 interview that he had found a way to get the federal forces ‘down there [Virgin Islands after a hurricane] and then play it by ear’ without having to declare martial law.”

  19. Diane says:

    This is nothing short of TERRIFYING! Vote people like your life and the future of democracy depends on it.

  20. JanaTHING says:

    That stupid picture of him should be on every Democratic political ad~it would kill him.

  21. Veronica says:

    I continue to be mystified by people who really didn’t think it would only take four years for him to destroy this country. I don’t know what warnings people needed otherwise from his campaign rhetoric. Vote like your life depends on it in November because it literally might. America is at a tipping point. What happens in the next four months will quite literally determine whether the United States will survive intact.