Former CA Gov. Jerry Brown on COVID-19 and Protests

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Do you think that it is an election ploy as some have suggested? Or do you think in some of these places like for instance, Portland has declared a state of riot now, do you think some of these places want these Federal forces or do you think it is just an election ploy on behalf of the President?

JERRY BROWN, FORMER GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: No, look, I’ve been in politics 50 years. I think I understand the political mind. This is pure politics. It’s a move, probably reminiscent of Richard Nixon in ’68 when we had all the protests and riots and all these civil disturbances. Nixon was very aware of that. He played it like a violin, and he won in 1968. So Trump is aware of that history and he is trying to do the same thing. Look, California’s had riots. Before we had the Watts riots. We had protests and riots in 1992. Even the National Guard of California has called that, by the Governor, by the President. A fundamental principle of America is federalism, and the most quintessentially local responsibility is public order and safety. The people of California, the people of Portland, Oakland, they can handle this. This is pure politics, but it’s dangerous assertion of Federal authority in a way that is very contrary to our historic framework and what is divided responsibility between state, Federal, and local.

AMANPOUR: Governor, you said that Richard Nixon played the law enforcement card and he won. Do you think President Trump will be it will win?

BROWN: No one knows. I think it’s an election that cannot be predicted today. But I do think Trump by his behavior toward women, toward his office, towards the truth with his thousands of lies, I don’t see where the boundaries are in this man’s character. So I think he’s going to try to exploit it. But I think America, Joe Biden, the decency of the people will see through what is really not just shoddy tactics, but very dangerous and un-American maneuvers.