Former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell has blamed President Trump for violating the constitution

Former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell has strongly criticized President Donald Trump's response to anti-racism protests, saying he has violated the constitution.

Colin Powell belongs to the Republican Party and has been the head of the US military. He has also joined the ranks of those who have condemned President Trump's handling of the protests. President Trump also threatened to send troops to quell the protests.

Colin Powell has said he will vote for Democratic candidate Joe Biden in the November presidential election.

President Trump has responded to the criticism by saying that Colin Powell is not as capable as he is thought to be.

Colin Powell is the first African-American to head the military. He is now on the growing list of top former US military personnel who have been sharply critical of President Trump.

The criticism of President Trump comes at a time when anti-racism protests are taking place in several US cities. The protests began after George Floyd, an African-American, was killed by police. The incident took place on May 25 in Mini Apple.

On Sunday, 13 members of the Minneapolis City Council promised hundreds of protesters that the local police department would be disbanded and a new public safety system would be put in place to keep people safe.

Meanwhile, security is being relaxed across the United States as tensions begin to ease. A week-long curfew in New York has been lifted and President Trump has said he is recalling the National Guard from Washington DC.

What did Colin Powell say?

"We have a constitution and we follow that constitution and the president has deviated from it," he told CNN on Sunday.

Talking about President Trump, he said, "They lie about things and escape because people don't ask them for answers."

Colin Powell called President Trump's remarks a threat to American democracy and said, referring to the presidential election later this year, "I certainly can't support President Trump this year."

"My social and political views are very close to Biden's. I have worked with them for almost 40 years. Now he is the presidential candidate and I will vote for him.

Colin Powell is seen as a moderate Republican. He did not vote for Donald Trump in the 2016 election either. In an interview with CNN, he also spoke in support of senior US military officials who have criticized President Trump in recent days.

Critics of President Trump include Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Barack Obama, and James Mattis, the former Secretary of Defense.

What is the reaction so far?

President Trump said on Twitter that "Colin Powell is a tough man and is fully responsible for getting us involved in the devastating war in the Middle East." President Trump was referring to the 1990-1993 Gulf War and the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020

 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden also criticized President Trump's handling of the protests, tweeting that "as president, he has incited violence, incited hatred and division and pushed us further apart Used his words ruthlessly to do.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has advised President Trump to stop tweeting for a while and talk to the American people.

Protests erupted in several US cities last month after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was shot dead by police.

Large demonstrations against racism soon broke out in several other countries. Thousands gather in Parliament Square in central London, UK.

There were also protests against racial discrimination and police brutality in Australia, Germany, Spain and France.