Trump Is Using the Military to Hide His Weakness

Trump Is Using the Military to Hide His Weakness
The president’s show of strength demonstrates the precariousness of his authority.


(The Nation) In trying to use the military to quell nationwide protests, Trump has given the most ominous example yet of his authoritarianism. On Monday night, the world saw the disturbing images of Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, decked out in uniform, accompanying Trump to a photo op at St. John’s Episcopal Church, which had been cleared of protestors by the National Guard and law enforcement agents. Earlier that day, Defense Secretary Mark Esper made a disturbing comment describing American cities experiencing protests as a “battlespace” that the military needed to “dominate.” On Tuesday, there were unsettling images of the military convoys filling the streets of Washington and a phalanx of uniformed soldiers standing guard outside the Lincoln Memorial.

These are troubling scenes and deserve to be remembered as among the most disgraceful events of Trump’s presidency. But they are also evidence of how feeble Trump’s authority is. Trump confirms the rule that macho bluster is usually a compensation for weakness.

The very decision to make the trip to St. John’s was motivated by a desire to counteract stories that Trump was holed up in the White House bunker, which conjured up images of a cowardly president. According to CNN, “Trump himself was angered by coverage depicting him holed up in an underground bunker. He told aides on Monday he wanted to be seen outside the White House gates, according to a person familiar with the matter, which is part of what drove the decision to stage the photo-op at St. John’s Church.”

Trump was surely mindful of the fact that he was being attacked for having a weak response to the protests on Fox News. On Monday Night, Tucker Carlson lambasted Trump for a supposed failure to protect Americans from protestors. “How are you going to protect the country?” Carlson asked. The Fox News host continued to needle Trump by noting that, “The president reassured America that he and his family were just fine. The federally funded bodyguards had kept them safe. He did not mention protecting the rest of the nation, much of which was then on fire. He seemed aware only of himself.” ..............(more)

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-military-weakness/