Donald Trump and his henchman William Barr are seeking to destroy the rule of law, respect for truth, and our very nation.

Over the past two days, in the wake of the brutal killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, Trump has used Twitter to threaten violence against protestors, posting on Friday, “Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” and then tweeting Saturday that had protestors near the White House come “close to breaching the fence… they would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen. That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action.”

….have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen. That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action. “We put the young ones on the front line, sir, they love it, and….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020

Barr followed up Saturday by blaming the protests and violence in cities across America on “anarchic and far-left extremist groups using Antifa-like tactics” — without providing any evidence that this is the case. (There is evidence that extreme far-right groups may be involved in the Minneapolis protests.) WATCH: 

African-Americans, and all Americans, are right to be outraged by the continued police killings of black men and women. We deserve leadership in the White House and the Justice Department that actually works for racial justice, protection of the people, and non-violent resolution of conflict. Trump and Barr work for just the opposite.

The next eight months, at least through Jan. 20, 2021, will be a struggle to rid ourselves of these vile, corrupt, savage criminals — Trump, Barr, Pompeo, and the rest — and to do so without seeing violence.