Given everything that has been transpiring across the United States, with thousands taking to the streets to peacefully protest against racial injustice and police brutality, violence has occasionally broken out. Often, police have resorted to using excessive force; plenty of video evidence has captured unprovoked use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets. 

With protests showing no sign of slowing down, Donald Trump has opted to stoke tensions further with a lengthy speech, calling upon an increased military presence to abate the “professional anarchists” he accuses of sowing discord — not to mention the “violent mobs,” “looters,” “criminals.” It should be noted that he made no mention of reckless or otherwise dangerous police conduct. 

“We’re going to clamp down very, very strong,” Trump said, in the same speech. “The word is ‘dominate.’ If you don’t dominate your city and your state, they’re gonna walk away with you. And we’re doing it in Washington, in DC, we’re going to do something that people haven’t seen before … But we’re going to have total domination.” It didn’t take long for Trump to send in “thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers” in Washington, threatening to do the same in cities that didn’t fall in line. 

This morning, Donald Trump took to Twitter to reflect on the aftermath, using the opportunity to give himself a pat on the back. Not to mention double down on his new favorite word. “D.C. had no problems last night. Many arrests. Great job done by all. Overwhelming force. Domination. Likewise, Minneapolis was great (thank you President Trump!),” he tweeted, his strong language furthering the seeds of division. Regardless of where one might stand on some of the destruction, it remains a clear line in the sand laid out by the acting President of the United States — one that will only further the divide between an already divided nation. 

On behalf of HotNewHipHop, we send our support to the entire Black community and all of those doing their part to ensure that justice is achieved.