HENRICO, V.A. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after President Trump threatened to deploy active duty servicemembers to U.S. states.

“After a week of mourning in America, as we contend with the deaths of more than 100,000 Americans to COVID-19 and yet another horrific killing of an unarmed black man, our country is desperate for presidential leadership.

“Yet, rather than taking steps to unite our anguished country, President Trump is now threatening to deploy deadly military force — in violation of states’ rights — to cities across the country to ‘dominate’ protestors. If there were any doubt that the President’s intentions are not meant to unite, but rather to divide, disorient, and demonstrate power, we need look no further than to the fact that the President then ordered tear gas and rubber bullets fired at peaceful protestors and members of the free press for the sake of a photo op.

“This is an abject failure of presidential leadership, an incendiary act of division, an escalation of tensions, and the type of actions undertaken by authoritarian regimes throughout the world. As a former CIA officer, I know this playbook, and I know the President’s actions are betraying the very foundation of the rule of law he purports to support — the U.S. Constitution.”