Fact Check: "Trump asked if troops could shoot protesters 'in the legs' during 2020 unrest."
What We Know
Former Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper has publicly stated that during a meeting in the summer of 2020, President Donald Trump asked if troops could shoot protesters "in the legs" amid the unrest following the murder of George Floyd. Esper recounted this incident during an interview with NPR, where he described Trump's reaction to the protests as one of anger and frustration, believing they made the country look weak. He recalled that Trump directly posed the question to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, suggesting a violent response to the protests, which left Esper and others in the room shocked (NPR, NPR Transcript).
In his memoir, A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times, Esper elaborates on the context of the meeting, indicating that Trump was enraged and wanted to take drastic measures to quell the protests (NPR, NPR Transcript). The suggestion to shoot protesters was not a casual remark but rather presented as a serious inquiry during a tense discussion about the deployment of military forces to address civil unrest.
Analysis
The claim that Trump asked if troops could shoot protesters is substantiated by Mark Esper's firsthand account, which is detailed in both his memoir and various interviews. Esper's credibility as a source is bolstered by his position as the former Secretary of Defense, and his account is consistent across multiple platforms, including NPR and other media outlets (NPR, People).
While some may question Esper's motivations for sharing this information—given that he has written a memoir that could be seen as self-serving—his portrayal of the incident aligns with the broader narrative of Trump's controversial handling of protests during that period. Additionally, the context of the meeting, described as chaotic and filled with Trump's frustration, lends weight to Esper's account.
However, it is important to note that while Esper's account is credible, it is still a single perspective from within the Trump administration. Other officials present during the meeting have not publicly corroborated this specific detail, which could lead to questions about the full context of the conversation. Nevertheless, the seriousness of the suggestion and the reaction it elicited from Esper and Milley highlight the gravity of the situation.
Conclusion
The claim that Trump asked if troops could shoot protesters "in the legs" during the 2020 unrest is True. This assertion is directly supported by Mark Esper's detailed account in his memoir and interviews, which provide a credible and consistent narrative of the events that transpired during a critical moment in U.S. history. The suggestion made by Trump, as described by Esper, reflects a concerning approach to civil unrest that has been widely discussed and criticized.
Sources
- Esper: Trump asked about shooting protesters (https://www.npr.org/2022/05/09/1097517470/trump-esper-book-defense-secretary)
- Esper: Trump asked about shooting protesters (https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1097517470)
- Trump's Deployment of Troops to L.A. Protests Is a Do-Over ... (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/us/politics/trump-protests-immigration-floyd.html)
- Pete Hegseth seems open to ordering soldiers to shoot ... (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/14/hegseth-seems-open-to-ordering-protesters-shot/)
- Donald Trump's dangerous view of state violence (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/02/donald-trumps-dangerous-view-state-violence/)
- 'This isn't an isolated incident': Trump's show of military ... (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/11/trump-military-force-plotting)
- Trump Defense Secretary Mark Esper's Book Claims He ... (https://people.com/politics/trump-defense-secretary-mark-espers-book-makes-claims-former-president/)
- 'Can't you just shoot them?': Former defense secretary says ... (https://www.yahoo.com/news/cant-you-just-shoot-them-former-defense-secretary-says-trump-wanted-violence-against-floyd-protesters-151957658.html)
