Ex US Defence Secretry accuses Trump of dividing US

President Donald Trump is facing an unprecedented revolt from the elite corps of ex-military leaders and presidents over his brazen response to mass protests and inflaming of racial divides   
Former Defence Secretary Jim Mattis accused President Donald Trump on Wednesday of trying to divide America.   

He said “... Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people, does not even pretend to try,”   

 The remarks by Mattis, an influential retired Marine General who resigned over policy differences in 2018, are the strongest over Trump’s response to the killing of George Floyd, an African-American, while in police custody.   
 They accompany a growing affirmation from within the Pentagon’s leadership of the U.S. military’s core values, including to uphold a constitution that protects freedom of assembly and the principles of equality.   

On Monday Trump threatened to send active duty U.S. troops to stamp out civil unrest gripping several cities, against the wishes of state governors - alarming current and former military officials who fear dissent in the ranks and lasting damage to the U.S. military itself.   

 His comments follow denunciations by other retired top brass, including Navy admiral Mike Mullen and retired Army general Martin Dempsey, both former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.   

 The current chairman, Army General Mark Milley, issued a message to the armed forces reminding them of their oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, which gives Americans the right to “freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.” Similar messages were delivered by other top military leaders.
- WASHINGTON (CNN/REUTERS) 3 June 2020    

C’man Joint Chiefs of Staff tells troops ‘uphold  Constitution’

US, (Daily Mail) 4 June 2020 -   
The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff put himself at odds with Donald Trump Thursday in a memo telling troops to ‘defend the Constitution’ and saying the National Guard was not under federal control - as retired generals including Jim Mattis denounced the president’s handling of the George Floyd protests.  Army General Mark Milley said in a letter to top military leaders that armed forces will continue to protect Americans’ right to ‘freedom of speech and peaceful assembly,’ as the president has called in troops to defend Washington, D.C.  

‘We all committed our lives to the idea that is America,’ Milley hand-wrote in as an addition to the bottom of the letter. ‘We will stay true to that and the American people.’ 

Former Presidents weigh in on killing of George Floyd   

(Daily Mail), 4 June 2020 -  President Barack Obama has applauded young people for leading the fight against racism in America while calling on mayors across the country to review their ‘use-of-force policies’ and commit to reform.   

The former president spoke at a virtual town hall on Wednesday.   

Former president Jimmy Carter has shared a stirring statement addressing the police killing of George Floyd and calling for the government to assure justice is served.   

‘...As a white male of the South, I know all too well the impact of segregation and injustice to African Americans’ he said.