United States President Donald Trump took to Twitter denounce demonstrators in Portland, Oregon who got violent on Sunday night and overturned statues of former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln in protest to Columbus Day.
Protest organizers dubbed the event “Indigenous Peoples Day of Rage, in response to Monday’s federal holiday named after 15th-century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, a polarizing figure who Native American advocates have said spurred centuries of genocide against indigenous populations in the Americas.
Historians have said Roosevelt expressed hostility toward Native Americans, once saying: I dont go so far as to think that the only good Indians are dead Indians, but I believe nine out of every 10 are …
Protesters spray-painted Dakota 38 on the base of Lincoln’s statue, referencing the 38 Dakota men Lincoln approved to have hanged after the men were involved in a violent conflict with white settlers in Minnesota.
On Monday, Trump took to Twitter to share a video of Lincoln's toppled statue as it lay face down in the ground. "These are Biden Fools. ANTIFA RADICALS. Get them FBI, and get them now!", Trump tweeted.
These are Biden fools. ANTIFA RADICALS. Get them FBI, and get them now! https://t.co/RI9fH6sC1g
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2020
Trump's tweet, got a lot of responses. While many applauded the call to the FBI against the vandals, others called out Trump for taking names and unfairly invoking Biden's name. Many also pointed out that Trump had not had similar responses against right-wing violence or threats from white supremacists.
You caused this mayhem. https://t.co/W3KtYrqdSl
— Virginia Bueno Cantu (@VBUENO) October 12, 2020
But Trump has no problem with right wing radicals carrying semi automated weapons, who he calls fine people. https://t.co/j3N0EhpMMF
— Zuma306 (@zuma306) October 12, 2020
"Get them FBI, and get them now!"How do expose who's who? The Don-in-Chief knows. #PANIC https://t.co/I6pw70Zt9w
— The Intercessor ⭐⭐⭐ (@Justice4allCQ) October 12, 2020
If he's anti anti facists, does that make him a facist? https://t.co/HubW8nACCA
— Bob Lowe (@FxLowe) October 12, 2020
Funny anought not a word about white supremacist arrested in Michigan for trying to kidnap the Governor. And by the way, you're a real crook when you're using taxes for your meetig whithin the White House, this is another violation wich you'll be acounting. https://t.co/4g8ylRKKGr
— Jacques Martin (@Jacques75543286) October 12, 2020
You kinda reak if desperation homie https://t.co/ILCeeTZH1h
— ACassACt (@RustRb) October 12, 2020
Trump pretends to be the ‘law and order’ president while ignoring the Constitution, profiting from his office, evading taxes, lying in his loan applications, and colluding with Putin. He’s lost the support of most Americans. But the racists remain loyal. That’s all he’s got! https://t.co/rxjjByao7g
— Jose Guzman (@drjrguzman) October 12, 2020
No! They are YOUR FOOLS! They are the proud boys, boogaloo boys, the domestic terrorists that you set on peaceful protesters and the hit men you set on Gov Whitmer! You are totally behind this and when you are gone they will scatter back to hide behind the woodwork again! https://t.co/7f1KKHzWXL
— DJ Maier (@Laadonna) October 12, 2020
Trump has blamed anti-fascist protesters and the far-left for the ongoing protests in Portland, Oregon, where an ongoing battle between state police forces and protesters has made headlines since May when protests first started after the killing of George Floyd.