Trump to Issue an Executive Order Forcing Cities to Protect Monuments

President Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order to force cities to protect monuments amid protests.

During an interview with Eternal Word Television Network, Trump shared his opinion on the fight against Confederate monuments with host Raymond Arroyo.

Trump described the removal of statues and monuments as a “disgrace” while he lauded the figures as “magnificent artwork.”

“It’s a disgrace,” Trump said. “Remember, some of this is great artwork. This is magnificent artwork, as good as there is anywhere in the world, as good as you see in France, as good as you see anywhere. It’s a disgrace.”

Despite the detailed history behind the statues, Trump claimed, “Most of these people don’t even know what they’re taking down.”

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Trump voiced his disapproval of a particular statue being forcefully removed by protesters. On Friday, the Ulysses S. Grant statue in San Francisco was toppled by protesters.

“You saw it … where they want to take down. He’s the one who stopped the ones that everyone dislikes so much,” Trump said.

Trump went on to announce his intent to sign an executive order protecting monuments, “Very soon we’re going to do an executive order and we’re going to make the cities guard their monuments.”

But, according to Arroyo, the president did not elaborate on how the order would be crafted.

“It is certainly something he’s clearly got on his mind,” Arroyo said. “I’m sure the White House counsel’s office is working on it. That is big news that we haven’t heard yet, there is an executive order forthcoming.”

Arroyo added, “It is a question, certainly in my mind, how the federal branch can impose its will on these cities and municipalities.”