Former President Donald Trump remarked during a recent phone interview with Fox News about using the "National Guard or, if really necessary, the military," but he was referring to using military assets in the event of overwhelming domestic unrest, which is permitted under the Insurrection Act.
When Trump was elected in 2016, protests by demented troublemakers broke out across America. And taking into account the present condition of the nation, these violent protests will possibly occur again on a massive scale if Trump is elected, particularly since most of the violence seems to come from the political left.
The Republican Party presidential candidate is probably suggesting that he will not tolerate violence.
But Directive 5240.01 is different.
This has been employed several times throughout history. It was most recently used by President Dwight Eisenhower when he deployed the military to forcibly desegregate a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.
The New York Times reported that the Posse Comitatus Act, passed in 1878, makes it illegal to use military forces on American soil. However, the Insurrection Act overrides that Act. (Related: Unveiling the military’s domestic overreach, and the FAILING of the Posse Comitatus Act)
Updated DOD directive has weaponized the U.S. military
As reported by Zero Hedge, the reauthorization of Directive 5240.01 would permit the U.S. military to use "lethal force" on the civilian population in the event of a "national security" emergency.
GreenMedInfo compared the 2016 and 2024 versions of the directive and discovered disturbing changes. The outlet reported that with America preparing for one of the most controversial and closely watched elections in its history, a concerning update to DOD Directive 5240.01 has been quietly implemented.
The directive, which was reissued on September 27, governs the Pentagon's intelligence activities and now includes provisions authorizing lethal force in certain circumstances when assisting civilian law enforcement.
While the directive prohibits assassination, it opens the door to deadly interventions under "national security" situations.
The report mentioned that while the 2016 version was mainly focused on intelligence gathering and securing civil liberties for Americans, the 2024 version expanded the military's role, especially in helping civilian law enforcement.
It also approves lethal force under certain conditions, "raising questions about its use during potential civil unrest surrounding the election."
There are some guardrails on the authorization like the requirement for Secretary of Defense approval.
And given the zeal shown by the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in hunting down even the most minor lawbreakers who were present at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, it is possible that if Harris prevails in the coming election the Pentagon would be authorized to use deadly physical force against Trump protesters.
The timing of this reauthorization raises several questions, especially with issues about election integrity, threats of civil unrest and political manipulation emerging as the Election Day nears.
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Watch the video below about the Pentagon directive expanding the military's domestic role to include use of lethal force.
This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.
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Sources include:
Brookings.edu [PDF]
ESD.WHS.mil [PDF]
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