Breaking with President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Mark Esper says he doesn't support using the military to quell protests triggered by the death of George Floyd.
“I don’t think they need to be used,” Esper told NBC News in an exclusive interview Tuesday night. “We have more than enough National Guard capacity out there.”
Esper expanded on those remarks in a press briefing on Wednesday.
“I say this not only as Secretary of Defense but also as a former soldier and a former member of the National Guard,” Esper said.