As protest over the killing of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin continues to spread across the United State, President Donald Trump has disclosed that he will deploy thousands of heavily armed soldiers and law enforcement to halt violence if mayors and governors fail to regain control of the streets.
President Trump disclosed this in the White House Rose Garden as authorities dispersed a peaceful protest with tear gas and rubber bullets blocks away.
“Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled. If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them” he said
Trump said a 7 p.m. ET curfew in Washington would be strictly enforced after the violence, looting, and some fires were set on Sunday night, which he called a “disgrace”.
As Trump spoke, more blasts from stun grenades could be heard as police on horseback pushed protesters further away from Lafayette Square, a park across from the White House.
After his brief remarks, Trump walked out of the White House – surrounded by dozens of security personnel – across Lafayette Square, to St. John’s Episcopal Church, which was damaged by fire amid protests on Sunday night.
He stopped in front of boarded-up windows at the yellow church, where many presidents have attended services, along with several members of his administration, including Attorney General William Barr, national security Adviser Robert O’Brien and other top aides.
“We cannot allow the righteous cries of peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob,” Trump said, adding that the nation was gripped by “professional anarchists.”
