Trump’s Former Secretary of Defense Has Ominous Warning About Ex-President’s Threat to Use Military on Political Opponents: ‘Take Those Words Seriously’

Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said former President Donald Trump should be taken seriously when he suggests using the U.S. military against his political opponents.

In recent days, Trump has repeatedly suggested that if he is elected again, he will use the U.S. military against his political opponents.

“We have some sick people, radical left lunatics,” he said on Fox News on Sunday. “It should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard or if really necessary by the military.” Trump cited Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) as an example of one such “lunatic,” calling him a “total sleazebag” and “the enemy from within.”

Esper appeared on Monday’s episode of The Source on CNN, where host Kaitlan Collins asked for his reaction.

“When you hear what Trump is talking about, do you take those comments seriously?” she asked Trump’s ex-Secretary of Defense.

“Well, I think we should always take the comments of political leaders and other leaders seriously, absolutely,” he replied. “He’s spoken about this before. If you recall, a year ago or so, he spoke about a second Trump term being about retribution. So yes, I think we should take those words seriously.”

Collins then recalled an anecdote in Esper’s book in which Trump asked about shooting protestors in 2020.

“And as you wrote, you said, you quoted him saying, ‘Can’t you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?'” Collins said. “And so, when he’s saying that the ‘enemy from within’ should potentially be handled by the National Guard and if necessary, the U.S military, do you fear that he would try to utilize the National Guard, the military against U.S. citizens?”

“Yes, I do,” Esper replied. “I lived through that and I saw over the summer of 2020 where President Trump and those around him wanted to use the National Guard in various capacities in cities such as Chicago and Portland and Seattle. And of course, there was a moment in time, as you just describe where he, on that early date in June, where he wanted to bring in active duty military as well. So, that’s what equally concerns me about his comment, would be the use of the military in these types of things.”

Watch above via CNN.

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