Ex-Secretary Esper Warns: Trump’s Military Threats Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Mark Esper, the former Secretary of Defense, has a stark warning for the public: take Donald Trump's comments about using the military against Americans seriously. Esper, who was part of Trump's administration, shared his thoughts on CNN's "The Source" on Monday. He recalled a time in the summer of 2020 when Trump wanted to deploy active-duty military against protesters in cities like Chicago, Portland, and Seattle. Esper believes that Trump's inclination is to use the military in such situations, which he thinks is a bad role for the military.Esper's main concern is that most uses of military force in these scenarios are illegal, with exceptions like the Insurrection Act. He fears that if Trump returns to the White House, his second term could look like his last year in office. Esper worries that Trump would surround himself with loyalists who won't challenge his decisions. Trump recently suggested using the National Guard or military on Election Day to prevent chaos from what he calls "the enemy from within," referring to radical leftists. He dismissed President Biden's concerns about a peaceful Election Day, saying the real threat comes from within. Esper's warning underscores the need for vigilance and critical thinking about the use of military force in domestic affairs.