Trump calls Esper's claims that the former president wanted to shoot protesters 'a complete lie'
Fox News
Donald Trump is hitting back at former Defense Secretary Mark Esper's claims that the former president wanted to shoot demonstrators who filled the streets around the White House during protests in June 2020.
U.S. President Donald Trump walks past graffiti during a visit to St. John's Episcopal Church across from the White House during ongoing protests in Washington, U.S., June 1, 2020. (REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo ) Demonstrators walk towards the White House and away from the U.S. Capitol Building during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Washington, U.S., June 6, 2020. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson) Protesters set fire to an American flag at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House, amid racial inequality protests in Washington, U.S., June 23, 2020. (REUTERS/Tom Brenner)
"He says, 'Can't you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something.' And he's suggesting that that's what we should do, that we should bring in the troops and shoot the protesters," Esper, who was fired by Trump days after his 2020 election loss, told 60 Minutes host Norah O'Donnell about the Oval Office meeting on June 1, 2020.
Trump called Esper's claims a "complete lie" in a statement to 60 Minutes, saying that 10 witnesses would back him up.