White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed a question from a reporter on Wednesday when asked if President Trump would support having “peaceful” protesters at the Saturday military parade in Washington, D.C.
“So if there were peaceful protests on Saturday for the military parade, President Trump would allow that,” NOTUS’s Jasmine Wright asked on Wednesday during the White House press briefing.
“Of course the president supports peaceful protests. What a stupid question,” Leavitt said in response.
Moments prior, Wright had mentioned Trump’s warning to potential protesters who were planning to be at the massive Army parade in the nation’s capital, saying they would be met with “very big force.”
“If there’s any protester wants to come out, they will be met with very big force. For those people that want to protest, they will be met with very big force. And I haven’t even heard about a protest,” Trump said on Tuesday.
Wright asked Leavitt if she could “clarify what kind of protest President Trump does support or find acceptable.”
The “president absolutely supports peaceful protests. He supports the First Amendment. He supports the right of Americans to make their voices heard,” the White House press secretary said.
“He does not support violence of any kind. He does not support assaulting law enforcement officers who are simply trying to do their jobs,” Leavitt added, referring to the ongoing protests in Los Angeles.
The protests in the City of Angels began after Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at several businesses. The demonstrations spread around federal buildings where those detained are believed to be held.
In response, Trump deployed National Guard troops and the Marines to help halt the protests, decisions that were opposed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).
“It’s very clear for the president what he supports and what he does not. Unfortunately for Democrats, that line has not been clear and they’ve allowed this unrest and this violence to continue, and the president has had to step in,” Leavitt said on Wednesday.
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