US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Wednesday that he does not support the use of active-duty military troops against protesters. This statement comes as the US enters its eighth day of mass protests in cities across the country and is a direct contradiction to President Donald Trump’s earlier statements throughout the week.
Esper said that active-duty military units should only be used in a law enforcement capacity and as a last resort. He went on to further clarify that “I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act.” There are already thousands of US military troops deployed from the US National Guard across the country.
