Donald Trump has addressed the nation amid several days of protests and riots following the murder of George Floyd.
The President of the United States gave his speech from the Rose Garden at the White House at around 6:40pm on Monday (June 1) while Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrated just blocks away in Washington, D.C.
The peaceful protests near the White House turned into chaos when the police started firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. CNN reporters said that the smell of the gas and cries of the protesters were evident from the Rose Garden.
During the address, Trump invoked an 1807 law to deploy the military to end “riots and lawlessness.”
“My first and highest duty as president is to defend our great country and the American people,” Trump said in his address. “I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our nation and that is exactly what I will do.”
CNN reporters are calling this a “made for TV moment” after police attacked the protesters outside of the White House just moments before the address. It is being emphasized that the protests were peaceful and the force from police was used to stop peaceful protests.
It’s being reported that the protesters were moved away from St John’s Episcopal Church so that Trump could walk from the White House to the church to make a visit after his address.