WASHINGTON ― The White House sought to reject any notion that President Donald Trump doesn’t support peaceful protests, one day after he warned “any protesters” who interrupt his upcoming military parade in Washington will be “met with very heavy force.”
“Of course the president supports peaceful protests,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a June 11 briefing with reporters. “What a stupid question.”
Trump issued his threat to “any protesters who want to come out” during the June 14 parade, which will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army while also falling on Trump’s 79th birthday. Trump did not distinguish between peaceful protests that are protected by the First Amendment and violent riots that violate laws.
More: Trump warns would-be protesters on Army’s 250th birthday celebration of ‘heavy force’
“For those people who want to protest, they’re going to be met with very big force,” Trump said on June 10. “And I haven’t even heard about a protest. But you know, these are people who hate our country. But they will be met with very heavy force.”
Trump’s warning came after he’s deployed National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles to counter protests that erupted over his administration’s deportation efforts targeting immigrants in the country illegally.
Trump critics have organized “No Kings Day” protests in more than 1,800 communities on the day of the military parade.
It is expected to be the largest and most numerous protests since Trump’s second term began, dwarfing the Hands Off protests in early April that drew as many as 1 million Americans to the streets at more than 1,000 rallies.
“The president absolutely supports peaceful protests,” Leavitt said at the June 11 press briefing. “He supports the First Amendment. He supports the right of Americans to make their voices heard. He does not support violence of any kind. He does not support assaulting law-enforcement officers who are simply trying to do their job.”
More: ‘No Kings Day’ protests planned for June 14 with aim to reclaim the American flag
On his first day of his second term, Trump issued sweeping pardons for more than 1,600 people convicted of crimes ‒ including assaulting law enforcement officials ‒ for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol. The riot was waged by Trump supporters who hoped to stop the certification of Trump’s election loss to Joe Biden.
The military parade, estimated to cost $40 million in taxpayer dollars, is set to include Abrams tanks, vintage World War II warplanes and some 7,000 soldiers marching in period uniforms to mark the nation’s battles from the Revolutionary War to the present. A reviewing stand has been erected for Trump to the south of the White House.
Contributing: Sara Wire of USA TODAY.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump OK with peaceful protests during DC parade: White House
