Former US defence secretary William Perry has criticised President Donald Trump's threat to use the the military against protesters demanding justice over the police custody death of George Floyd.
"I am outraged at the deplorable behaviour of our President and Defense Secretary [Mark] Esper, threatening to use American military forces to suppress peaceful demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights. This is a deeply shameful moment for our nation," Mr Perry wrote on Twitter.
I am outraged at the deplorable behavior of our President and Defense Secretary Esper, threatening to use American military forces to suppress peaceful demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights. This is a deeply shameful moment for our nation. https://t.co/zO8bEMd0YB
— William J. Perry (@SecDef19) June 5, 2020
Mr Perry who held the post under former president Bill Clinton, accused Mr Trump of politicising the armed forces, saying the US military "was never intended to be used against American citizens, and it was never intended to be used for partisan political purposes".
"It is both wrong and dangerous to threaten to deploy American soldiers against American citizens unless there is a complete breakdown of law and order in a state and the governor requests that assistance," Mr Perry, 92, said in a statement released on Thursday.
Mr Trump issued his threat to call out active duty troops during a White House address on Monday after repeatedly urging local officials to use more force to quell the nationwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice.
The president's stance was also strongly criticised by James Mattis, his former defence chief who resigned in December 2018.
"I have watched this week's unfolding events, angry and appalled," Gen Mattis said on Wednesday, accusing Mr Trump of setting up a "false conflict" between the military and civilian society.
Mr Perry and Gen Mattis were both critical of Defence Secretary Esper accompanying Mr Trump to a church service near the White House on Monday after protesters had been forcibly removed from the area.
"Secretary Esper has said that he was not aware of what the president was about to do. But he was shamelessly exploited and his office degraded. He should speak out forthrightly that he will not support using the office of the Secretary of Defense to promote partisan political actions," Mr Perry said.
