I think he could be.
Reason is that I think DS was looking for a Kent State redux. By announcing the NG in DC would be disarmed, he took that scenario off the table.
There were posts yesterday showing USSS anti-sniper units mobilizing. They could do that discreetly, but they were obvious about it. That sends the "sniper threat' message.
Remember back to the Ukraine sniper caused deaths and the rumors of US State Department involvement and it isn't hard to assume a credible sniper threat.
So as a average protester, are you going to risk snipers, and/or no armed NG to protect you if it goes pear shaped? I think a normie would say "fuck this, shit" and go home.
Bottom line, I don't think Esper is stupid enough to make the announcements he did publicly, so I tend to sway to a rope a dope strategy. Let Antifa wade in and round them up with undercover assets mixed in with the crowd.
I understand I'm breaking the cardinal rule of underestimating stupidity, if so, I'll fess up.