By Gov. Mike Huckabee

America is fortunate to have a president who is capable of unifying this country in times of crisis and civil unrest, because we’ve got plenty of both to contend with right now. It’s just a shame that many on the left seem to have no interest in national unity.

Sadly, the far left and most of the media have such hatred for the president that they fail to see or report his message of peace and safety, and seem to revel in the unraveling of civic order in large urban areas where Democrat governors and mayors are slow to respond to the anarchy that dishonors George Floyd. America is unified in outrage over the unspeakable murder of a black man by a police officer in Minnesota, and unified that we should demand justice. But America is also unified in the knowledge that burning family-owned businesses, looting stores and stealing things, hurling bricks, and murdering police officers has nothing to do with peaceful and lawful protests and cannot be ignored.

As peaceful protesters throughout the U.S. gathered to honor the memory of George Floyd, President Trump directly addressed the black community, acknowledging their pain, frustration, and suffering.

“I understand the pain that people are feeling,” he said at the Kennedy Space Center, adding that the administration supports “the right of peaceful protesters, and we hear their pleas.”

The president, however, was also aware that the peaceful movement was even then in the process of being hijacked by radical liberal extremists who were using George Floyd’s death as an excuse to promote lawlessness and anarchy.

“The memory of George Floyd is being dishonored by rioters, looters, and anarchists,” he said at the time. “The violence and vandalism is being led by Antifa and other radical left-wing groups who are terrorizing the innocent, destroying jobs, hurting businesses, and burning down buildings.”

Less than 48 hours later, the president took decisive action to support state and local law-enforcement authorities with federal resources, underscoring that the American people need to stay united against violence and rioting that is destroying local communities.

“All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by the brutal death of George Floyd,” he said, adding that while his administration is “fully committed” to ensuring that justice is served, “we can not allow the righteous cries and peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob.”

Of course, President Trump was already focused on unifying Americans amid a national crisis when this new challenge arose. From the earliest days of the global coronavirus pandemic, he has urged lawmakers to put their political differences aside and help the country curb the spread of the vicious disease. The Trump administration has led by example on that front, working closely with Democrat and Republican governors alike and giving them everything they need to fight the invisible enemy and save American lives.

Even some of the president’s biggest critics, such as Representative Ilhan Omar, have praised his response to the coronavirus outbreak, thanking the White House for its “incredible” early initiative and leadership.

“[W]e should never let politics get in the way of good policy,” she said in March. “This is a great start and hope others will be part of a united front to push for good policies that will help us work through the economic anxiety the country is feeling right now.”

Unfortunately, Rep. Omar has gone back to her divisively partisan nature, but the fact that President Trump’s actions managed to garner actual praise from her in a rare moment of candor speaks volumes about his unique ability to unite the American people on some of the most polarizing issues of our time, if only they’re willing to follow his leadership and example. The president is taking such a strong stance against the ongoing riots because he knows the devastating effect they are bound to have on urban communities that are already struggling to endure the worst public health crisis in at least a century.

In spite of the mainstream media’s best efforts to glorify violence and civil unrest, Donald Trump will continue to call for unity and peace — and that means strongly condemning every violent thug seeking to exploit this crisis, as well as the extremist politicians, journalists, and activists who provide cover for them.

Mike Huckabee was the 44th governor of Arkansas and a 2016 Republican candidate for president. He is currently host of “Huckabee” on TBN.