Donald Trump Warns Rioters U.S. Military Will be Used to Stop Them
President Donald Trump declared himself “your president of law and order” and warned the U.S. military would be deployed to stop riots across the country.
Mr Trump addressed the nation from the Rose Gardens yesterday as protesters outside the White House gates were dispersed with tear gas and flash bangs.
“Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled,” he said.
“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.” Mr Trump said he was “dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily-armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers” to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults, and destruction of property.
A 7pm curfew was also strictly enforced in Washington, DC. Mr Trump said justice would be served for George Floyd, the unarmed black man who died after a white Police officer knelt on his neck as he was being arrested, that has sparked the national protests. And he said he was an “ally of all peaceful protesters.”
“I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our nation and that is exactly what I will do,” Mr Trump said.
“The biggest victims of the rioting are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities and as their president I will fight to keep them safe.”
America had “one beautiful law”, Mr Trump said, and he warned violent and rule-breaking protesters could face severe prison terms.
“These are not acts of peaceful protests. These are acts of domestic terror, the destruction of innocent life and the spilling of innocent blood is an offence to humanity and a crime against God.”
The president said law enforcement would “succeed 100 per cent” in stopping the riots.
“I want the organisers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties and lengthy sentences in jail. This includes Antifa and others who are leading instigators of this violence.”
Mr Trump did not take any questions from the media. Instead, in remarkable scenes, the president and his entourage left the White House precinct and walked nearby streets.
Flanked by Police, Mr Trump carried a Bible to St John’s church which had been damaged by fire in the riots.
After a moment of silence, Mr Trump said the US nation was “the best in the world” and he pledged to “keep it nice and safe”.