Carney rejects Trump Administration request to send National Guard to Washington, D.C.

508

Delaware Gov. John Carney rejected a request to send National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., citing what he viewed as heated rhetoric of President Donald Trump and an ill-defined mission.

Carney’s spokesman Jonathan Starkey issued the following:

“Governor Carney takes his job as commander-in-chief of the Delaware National Guard extremely seriously, and always seriously considers requests for Guard assistance from other jurisdictions. In the last several years, Delaware National Guardsmen and women have assisted the people of Texas, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico in coping with natural disasters. Members of the Delaware Guard also continue to serve overseas to keep us safe.
 
Yesterday, we received a request for Guard assistance in Washington, from the federal government. The mission of our Guardsmen and women in Washington was not at all clear. Sending members out of state also limits the Guard’s ability to manage situations in Delaware – including their current role in our COVID-19 response.
 
And frankly the rhetoric out of the White House seemed like it had the potential to provoke additional unrest. For those reasons, the governor was not comfortable with members of the Delaware Guard assisting in the response. Delaware is not sending members of the Guard to Washington at this time. The governor’s team also has spoken with Mayor Bowser’s office and the mayor’s office has not requested additional assistance.”
 

Trump has called for a hard line in dealing with civil unrest in the nation’s capital, which has been hit with protests and looting. 

Trump made a controversial decision yesterday to clear the area in front of the White House of protesters with police using tear gas. After that action was taken, Trump walked out of the grounds to the outside of an Episcopal parish and held up a Bible. 

The action was criticized by former vice president, longtime U.S. Senator  and presumptive Democratic nominee for president Joe Biden. 

 

The action was condemned by the Episcopal bishop for Washington, D.C. and the denomination’s presiding bishop.

The Hill website reported that the governor of Virginia, a fellow Democrat also turned down the request, with the Republican governor of Maryland agreeing to allow the deployment of more than 100 troops.