US defence chief opposes use of military to quell unrest

United States Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Wednesday that he does not support invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty forces to quell civil unrest, and added that he regretted using the word "battlespace" to describe areas gripped by protest.

Esper also said he was unaware that he would be part of President Donald Trump's politically-charged photo opportunity on Monday when law enforcement forcibly cleared a park outside the White House of peaceful protesters so the president could take a picture in front of a church while holding a Bible.