President Donald Trump let loose on the nation’s governors on a call after a weekend of protests around the country after the gruesome death of an African-American man in police custody in Minnesota.
The details of the call were leaked instantly to reporters who posted quotes on Twitter.
In the call, Trump told governors, “Washington was under very good control, but we’re going to have it under much more control. We’re going to pull in thousands of people”
Trump went on to add that those arrested at the protests, which turned violent at night, should face harsh jail sentences.”
According to CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe, Trump told the governors, “You’ve got to arrest people, you have to track people, you have to put them in jail for 10 years and you’ll never see this stuff again.”
MORE: Trump tells governors: "You’ve got to arrest people, you have to track people, you have to put them in jail for 10 years and you’ll never see this stuff again," per audio obtained by @CBSNews
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) June 1, 2020
The president went on to reportedly berate the governors. He told them, “You’re making a mistake because you’re making yourselves look like fools. And some have done a great job. But a lot of you — it’s not — it’s not a great day for our country.”
Trump also said, “It’s a movement, if you don’t put it down it will get worse and worse,” he added, “The only time its successful is when you’re weak and most of you are weak,” according to a CNN report.
Here's the audio of that remarkable call where Trump lashes out at governors and says they need to crack down on protesters. pic.twitter.com/ANSsniYItN
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) June 1, 2020
The president also reportedly told them, “You have to dominate or you’ll look like a bunch of jerks, you have to arrest and try people.”
There have been thousands of arrests over the past few days as protests have turned violent at night and looting has become widespread and police crash with protesters.
In Washington DC, Trump was reportedly taken to a bunker under the White House and the skyline was spotted with plumes of smoke. The Associated Press reported that over 4,400 people have been arrested.
