Trump says he has restored law and order in America — ‘except in Democrat-run cities’

‘Look, we have laws. We have to go by the laws. We can’t move in the National Guard’

Donald Trump attempted to defend his self-labelled “law and order” candidacy on Tuesday night, saying at a town hall that he successfully restored order across the country — “except in Democrat-run cities”.

The president made the comments during an event hosted by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, in which he addressed his attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act — which protects people with pre-existing conditions — as well as his 2020 re-election bid, among other issues.

Mr Trump — who has focused much of his re-election campaign on claims that protests sweeping over the US had the intention of destroying suburban America — began claiming lawlessness was “a Democrat problem” before he was interrupted by Mr Stephanopoulos.

“Mr President, you promised four years ago at the Republican Convention, ‘I’m going to restore law and order,’” the host said.

Mr Trump immediately responded: “And I have!”

“Except in Democrat-run cities,” he added. “Look, we have laws. We have to go by the laws. We can’t move in the National Guard. I can call Insurrection, but there’s no reason to ever do that, even in a Portland case.”

Mr Trump was referring to the Insurrection Act of 1807, a law that provides the president the authority “to employ the armed forces during a natural disaster or terrorist attack” in states across the country.

His supporters have called on him to use the act, including Fox’s Mark Levin, who said the president should use it to “put down the enemy” in a recent podcast episode.

The president went on to say that his administration “can’t call in the National Guard unless we’re requested by a governor”.

Mr Trump’s rhetoric surrounding protests against racism and police brutality targeting black Americans has reportedly fallen flat in US suburbs, despite the president’s continued railing against the nationwide demonstrations.

The majority of Americans meanwhile support the Black Lives Mater protests sparked by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others, according to recent polls. But the Trump campaign has attacked demonstrators and alleged that protests have been led and organized by Antifa with the purpose of violent riots.