Trump tells states he could send in military

‘Acts of domestic terror’ won’t go unanswered

WASHINGTON – In dramatic fashion, President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is sending additional federal resources to help the nation’s capital city quell violent protests – and then walked across the street to visit a historic church burned during the unrest.

Declaring himself “the president of law and order,” Trump said during a Rose Garden address that he is dispatching “thousand and thousands” of military personnel and law enforcement personnel to Washington, D.C., to stop rioting, looting, vandalism and destruction of property.

Trump also urged governors to use as many National Guard troops as possible to control violence and warned if they didn’t, he would deploy the U.S. military “and quickly solve the problem for them.”

“These are not acts of peaceful protest,” Trump said of the unrest. “These are acts of domestic terror.”

Immediately after his remarks, Trump walked across nearby Lafayette Park and visited St. John’s Church, which was set on fire by protesters Sunday night. Trump held up a Bible in front of the boarded-up church, which is referred to as the “church of presidents.” St. John’s was built in 1815 and has been attended at least once by every president since James Madison.

Trump’s actions come after six days of protests and riots in cities across the country following the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis who died last week while in police custody. Police officer Derrick Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death.

Just minutes before Trump spoke in the Rose Garden and headed to St. John’s, law enforcement officers cleared Lafayette Park with tear gas, rubber bullets, shields and horses. Though the Rose Garden was not within view of the protesters, reporters awaiting Trump’s speech reported hearing a series of loud booms.