Mark Esper claims in his upcoming memoir that Donald Trump, during his presidency, inquired about bombing drug trafficking labs in Mexico and whether protesters could be shot during the 2020 demonstrations.
In a startling revelation, former US President Donald Trump allegedly asked if the United States could bomb drug labs in Mexico while pretending not to be responsible for the missile attacks, according to former Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The information comes from Esper’s new book, set to be released on Tuesday, which provides an inside look into the administration’s internal discussions.
Esper, who served as Secretary of Defense from July 2019 to November 2020, claims in excerpts cited by The New York Times that Trump floated the idea of striking the drug labs in Mexico to combat drug trafficking. Trump reportedly suggested that the US could deny involvement in launching the missiles across the southern border.
The relationship between Trump and Esper had deteriorated before Esper’s dismissal in November 2020, shortly after President Joe Biden won the presidential election. One of the key points of tension occurred in June 2020, when Esper publicly opposed Trump’s plan to use military force to suppress the anti-racism protests that erupted across the country following the death of George Floyd.
In another incident from the book, Esper recounts a conversation in which Trump, frustrated by the protests, asked: “Can’t you just shoot them?” This remark was reportedly made during discussions on how to deal with the nationwide demonstrations.
Esper’s memoir sheds light on these controversial moments, highlighting the friction between him and Trump over key decisions regarding both domestic and foreign policies.
