US President Donald Trump has promised to mobilize “all civil and military resources to end looting and riots today” in the country

The American president Donald Trump on Monday indicated that the acts of violence recorded in recent days “are not peaceful protests”: “This is national terrorism.” After his words at the White House, he crossed to the Church of Saint John, damaged by the incidents, and raising a Bible he assured: “We are going to get out of this situation very strong”

While speaking from the White House on Monday, Trump said that he will deploy the armed forces to contain the riots and violence that occurred in the last days after the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police. “I am mobilizing all available federal resources, civil and military, to stop the riots and looting, to stop the destruction and arson. And to protect the rights of Americans who respect the law, “he said from the White House.

Along these lines, he warned that he recommended the governors “deploy the National Guard to take to the streets” to “stop the riots, looting, vandalism, assaults and the senseless destruction of property.” In case they refuse, he said: “If a city or state refuses to take the necessary measures … then I will deploy the United States Army.”

He denounced the rumor that the country “is being attacked by professional anarchists,” and maintained: “These are not peaceful protests, this is national terrorism.”

The president indicated that from 7:00 p.m. local time, there will be a curfew, and warned: “Anyone who violates the law will be detained and face criminal charges.”

While the head of state gave his speech, in the vicinity of the White House there was a new confrontation between the protesters and the police and the National Guard. The security forces dispersed the protesters with tear gas.

Trump assured that his administration is “committed” to justice for Floyd’s death: “I promise to bring justice to George Floyd’s family, but we cannot allow peaceful protesters to be displaced by mobs (…) As President I will fight to keep Americans safe and protect. ”

After his speech, and amid the riots a few blocks away, Trump walked, heavily escorted by his security team, to the Episcopal Church of Saint John, in front of the White House, which was damaged by protesters. .

As the president walked, his security asked the press and the people in Lafayette Square, the square in front of the presidential house, to withdraw from the path. Upon arriving at the church, the President of the United States took some photos while holding a Bible, and stated: “We are going to come out of this situation very strong.”

“What happened in the city last night is an absolute disgrace,” Trump said in a speech, referring to the acts of violence that occurred in Washington.

Despite having been dispersed from the area where the President walked, the protesters still continued in the vicinity shouting slogans, although without being able to access the Lafayette Square area.

For the past three days, the vicinity of the White House has been the scene of altercations between protesters and law enforcement, in the heat of protests that have erupted across the country over the murder of Floyd. On Friday night, Secret Service agents led Trump to a White House bunker when hundreds of protesters surrounded the presidential home and threw stones. The American president spent almost an hour there, according to a Republican close to the White House who was not authorized to comment publicly on private matters. His version was confirmed by a government official who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hours before his pronouncement, Trump criticized state governors for what he considered an insufficient response to the riots. In a conference call, the audio of which was quickly leaked and broadcast by various local media, Trump told regional leaders that the protesters were “terrorists” and should “dominate them.” If they did not take a “tough” approach that involves “sending them to prison for long periods of time,” they would see themselves as “idiots” in the eyes of the public, he said.

Specifically, he focused on Minnesota, the city where Floyd died at the hands of policeman Derek Chauvin after he knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, ensuring that the city had become a “laughingstock throughout the world”