WaPo's Costa: Governors alarmed by Trump berating them, calling them fools, urging use of force

[highplainsdem]

Three tweets from Robert Costa starting here, full text below:

Link to tweet

I'm in touch with someone who's on the governors' call with President Trump right now. They and others listening in are alarmed. The president is urging governors to take back the streets, not be "weak," and use force as the nation faces growing racial unrest.


More: President Trump just berated governors and mayors for how they are handling the protests, calling them "fools," per person on the call.


Aides to governors say the president continues to talk. One describes it as a "rant." Says he keeps talking about the need to "dominate" the protests.

Another tweet from Costa:

Link to tweet

A second person on call says Trump's "fools" comment was more of a warning, saying if the governors didn't take more action on the protests, they'd look like "fools."

Another:

Link to tweet

President Trump is now encouraging the nation's governors, repeatedly, to use the military to deal with protests, per a person on the call. Moments ago.

[tetedur]

1. Yes and "someone who's on the governor's call" doesn't have the courage to identify themselves.

They are "alarmed?". Is that like "concern?"

There is absolutely no leadership in this country.

[MontanaMama]

2. Maybe it was Susan Collins...

[42bambi]

9. She's concerned. For now. nt

[lunatica]

43. Still holds out that he will learn his lesson. nt

[jrthin]

12. I wondered the same.

[MyOwnPeace]

28. She's thinking he's learning another lesson............

[EllieBC]

11. The source is concerned

but also probably doesn’t want to lose income. Can’t say I blame them.

[Doremus]

24. Sounds like it's an aide in a governor's office.

It makes mention of such in one of the tweets.

[Hekate]

42. That person would be called "a source" & would be useless henceforth if identified now

It takes a certain courage to be a journalist's unnamed source, and skill and discretion to know how to use them.

As this crowded day goes on, let's see what the various governors say as they absorb the content of this rant.

[elleng]

46. Yes, and thanks,

does no one any good to berate journalists for doing their job.

[Baked Potato]

3. Trump is setting them up for failure so he can use

The Insurrection Act.

[PNW-Dem]

35. Posse Comitatus Act

I’m not an attorney so please correct me if I am wrong, but neither the governors nor the president can use the military because of the Posse Comitatus Act. Interestingly enough, this was put in place by the South during reconstruction.

[Baked Potato]

49. No attorney here either, but this Wikipedia entry is eye opening:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurrection_Act

[spanone]

4. We Have No President.

[UpInArms]

5. This ... from the weak little pissant who hides in a bunker

Screw him and all of his syncopated followers

[musclecar6]

6. Well

When you have a guy who operates like an SS storm trooper, things can only get worse.

[dalton99a]

7. Always a coward, hiding behind others - Trump doesn't have the guts to fire people face-to-face

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. ...

[MustLoveBeagles]

10. We have no leadership

I would like for President's Carter, Clinton, Bush and Obama to do a PSA to reassure the american people.

[txwhitedove]

13. Yes, this!

[ananda]

14. Including Biden as well.

Good idea.

[Delmette2.0]

45. Why? The former Presidents have no authority.

And tRumps supporters wouldn't listen to them anyway.

I know I will get dinged for this but, the former Presidents comments and opinions would only make us feel better.

We need the 25th Amendment and that would take to long to enforce. I have no faith in the R Senators to do the right action.

Everything that could be used by constitutional actions is out of our reach and timeline. We need something now!

My only suggestion is that the R Senators convince him to resign, like Nixon. They should tell him to fake a stroke or heart attack, anything to promote a no fault exit.

[world wide wally]

15. Were they all GOP Governors?

[MyOwnPeace]

29. Oh, no!

The "stuff" hit the fan with the Illinois Gov (Dem.) stood up to him!

[murielm99]

37. Is this recent?

What did JB say to him? JB takes no shit from the so-called president.

[MyOwnPeace]

41. Oh, yeah!

Check out this other DU post:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213521037

[murielm99]

39. Found it!

I am proud of all the governors who are standing up to trump.

[Mr. Ected]

16. "This country needs to be governed by an outsider", they said

"Career politicians are so predictably political", they said. "We need to shake things up", they said. "We need a businessman in office to ensure that we MAKE MONEY", they said.

And this, after Russian interference and an electoral college debacle, is the result.

Strangely, we ain't making money, just printing it like crazy and handing it out to the corporations and oligarchs.

"Vote the fucker out", we said, and say, and damned sure better do.

[Da-truth]

17. Nowhere Man

Trump is a joke and a real Nowhere Man

The Beatles' album Rubber Soul.

[TomCADem]

18. Trump Wants Kent State Times a Thousand

Nt

[ibegurpard]

20. So does 40% of the country

[lunatica]

44. But evidently they want someone else to make the sacrifice

[Baclava]

19. DerTrumpenfuhrer is moving his imaginary armies around while screaming orders from his bunker

I think I saw this in a movie once

[dawnie51]

21. We haven't had a president.....

since January 19, 2017. I'm almost past blaming Dump for this shit; I blame the treasonous MFers who prop him up for their own nefarious ends

[MyOwnPeace]

30. That would be

Moscow Mitch McTurtle and the Federalist Society.

[Aviation Pro]

22. Still in your bunker?

You fucking coward.

[Renew Deal]

23. I wonder what all of the freedom loving militia's think about this.

[KS Toronado]

33. They're waiting for t.rump to give them the go ahead to start shooting

and Holy S##t, look out if he does

[Renew Deal]

50. I agree

That's what all of the MANGA Night stuff was about. I don't put it past him to call up his own army.

[tinrobot]

25. He obviously stole the word "fool" from Biden.

I bet when Biden called him that, it cut deep.

[gratuitous]

27. That was my thought

Biden called Trump an absolute fool last week, and now you hear it falling out of Trump's mouth. It's not a coincidence.

[2naSalit]

47. It's what Vladdy told him to say.

[titanicdave]

26. ...Captain Bonespurs.....

.....is nothing other than a cowardly thug wannbe.........

[MyOwnPeace]

32. And expecting others

to do his dirty work while he cowers in his bunker.

[NRaleighLiberal]

31. well, this will go well...

[bullwinkle428]

34. He wants them all to go "Kent State" on the protesters, so he can claim

that the blood is on the governors' hands; not his.

[PNW-Dem]

36. tRump Can't Use the Military

I’m not an attorney so please correct me if I am wrong, but neither the governors nor the president can use the military to stop the protests because of the Posse Comitatus Act. Interestingly enough, this was put in place by the South during reconstruction.

[highplainsdem]

38. See this thread about the Insurrection Act:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213513271

[CaptainTruth]

40. Let's all remind Trump of this when he loses the election & his supporters protest.

[LaMouffette]

48. As if President "No, You Can't See My Grades!" knows the meaning . . .

of the word "rhetoric"!

Someone should tell him in a tone of glowing admiration, "You are so amazing, Mr. President! Your malodorous flatulence brings tears to my eyes!" and watch him say "Thank you!"

[jcgoldie]

51. 90% of everything Trump says is projection

If he's calling Governors "weak" and "a laughingstock"... it mostly tells you a lot about his self image right now....