TITLE: Pentagon disarms guardsmen in D.C., in signal of de-escalation
PARTIAL EXCERPT: The Pentagon has told the District of Columbia National Guard and guardsmen from other states who have arrived in the nation's capital as backup to not use firearms or ammunition, a sign of de-escalation in the federal response to protests in the city after the killing of George Floyd, according to officials familiar with the decision.
The Pentagon has told the District of Columbia National Guard and guardsmen from other states who have arrived in the nation's capital as backup not to use firearms or ammunition, a sign of de-escalation in the federal response to protests in the city after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, according to officials familiar with the decision.
The Defense Department, led by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, appears to have made the decision without consulting the White House, where President Donald Trump has ordered a militarized show of force on the streets of Washington since demonstrations in the city were punctured by an episode of looting Sunday. Trump specifically had encouraged the National Guard to be armed.
>Mark Esper, Defense Secretary
>made the decision without consulting WH (POTUS)
>RED6: SEC OF DEF _instruct1
Coincidence? Was Q's post a heads-up?