Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to cut federal funding to several major US cities -- all run by Democrats and located in blue states -- on the grounds that their leaders are allowing "anarchy, violence, and destruction." The White House announced it had instructed federal agencies to prepare reports for the White House Office of Management and Budget, setting a timeline for the agency to restrict federal grants from going to "anarchist jurisdictions." But for Trump, it immediately adds to his frequent "law and order" messaging , which he has promoted in recent weeks. Notably absent from Wednesday's memo are Minneapolis and Kenosha, Wisconsin, which have also seen unrest this summer but are located in more competitive states as it relates to the presidential election. It's also the latest extraordinary example of Trump seeking to use the power of the federal government to punish citizens who reside in areas that oppose him politically.

Source: CNN September 03, 2020 01:43 UTC