Trump continues slamming Gov. Inslee over police-free zone in Seattle
President Trump on Thursday said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee looks like a “fool” — a day after Inslee responded “that’s news to me” to a question about protesters carving out a police-free zone in a section of Seattle.
During a news conference Wednesday, Inslee, a former Democratic presidential candidate, was asked about the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.
“Well, that’s news to me. So I’ll have to reserve any comment about it. I have not heard anything about that from any credible source,” the governor said, adding a chuckle.
“Not that you’re not credible, it’s just that I — before I espouse an opinion, I should know of which I speak,” he said, once again snickering.
Trump, who called on Inslee to take action in a series of tweets late Wednesday, appeared astonished by the governor’s comments.
“Anarchists just took over Seattle and the Liberal Democrat Governor just said he knows ‘nothing about that,'” the president posted.
In tweets late Wednesday, Trump referred to the protesters as “domestic terrorists” and issued Inslee and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan an ultimatum.
“Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before,” Trump wrote. “Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped [sic] IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!”
Durkan responded to Trump on Thursday.
“Make us all safe. Go back to your bunker. #BlackLivesMatter,” she wrote on Twitter, referring to Trump going into the White House bunker on May 29 as protesters gathered in nearby Lafayette Park.
Inslee, who earlier made light of Trump’s typo, writing, “‘Stoop’ tweeting,” also shot back at the president on Thursday.
“What we will not allow are threats of military violence against Washingtonians coming from the White House. The U.S. military serves to protect Americans, not the fragility of an insecure president,” he wrote, adding that Trump should ship the state medical equipment to fight the coronavirus if he wants to “show leadership.”
Earlier in the day, Trump mocked political foe Joe Biden, urging the former vice president to get out of his basement.
“Sleepy Joe Biden refuses to leave his basement ‘sanctuary’ and tell his Radical Left BOSSES that they are heading in the wrong direction. Tell them to get out of Seattle now,” Trump wrote. “Liberal Governor @JayInslee is looking ‘the fool’. LAW & ORDER!”
“THOSE THAT DENY THEIR HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT!,” the president said in another posting.
Trump didn’t let up on Inslee, tweeting as he headed to Texas aboard Air Force One for a campaign fundraiser.
“Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before. Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stopped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!,” the posting said.
Protesters, angry at the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police on May 25, have taken over a roughly six-block area in the middle of Seattle that they’ve called the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone or CHAZ.
Demonstrators have occupied the area, where free snacks are passed out, films about racial justice are played at night and police are not permitted entry.
On Tuesday, protesters unfurled a banner on the police station in the neighborhood that said “THIS SPACE IS NOW PROPERTY OF THE SEATTLE PEOPLE,” the Seattle Times reported.
Trump, in tweets late Wednesday, referred to the protesters as “domestic terrorists” and gave Inslee and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan an ultimatum.
“Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before,” Trump wrote.
“Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped [sic] IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!”
Later, Trump called for “LAW & ORDER!,” saying, “Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle, run by Radical Left Democrats, of course.”
Inslee mocked Trump’s typo, writing, “‘Stoop’ tweeting.”
The protesters released a letter detailing their demands on Tuesday that include dismantling the police force and ending the use of armed force, guns, batons and riot shields, and abolishing the court system, among a list.