Trump Says He Is Taking Action to Mobilize Federal Resources; Visits Church That Caught Fire on Previous Night

During a statement in the Rose Garden on Monday, President Trump said he is taking “immediate action” to mobilize “all available federal resources” to stop riots and looting across the United States. He also visited a church that caught fire the night before.

“I will fight to protect you,” Trump said in an evening protest. This is before what is expected to be more protests in Washington following the death of George Floyd.

After the speech, the president and his entourage walked outside of the White House, “across Lafayette Square, to St. Johns Episcopal Church, which caught on fire during the protesters the night before,” Fox News reported.

“I almost can’t believe what I’m seeing. POTUS just walked out the front door of the White House and into Lafayette Square – the epicenter of the DC protests – to visit historic St. John’s Church, which was set on fire last night” Fox News correspondent Kristin Fisher said in a tweet.

Trump stood in front of the church and held up a Bible during his visit. He was with aides and officials – including Attorney General Bill Barr, daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

Destruction Brought By Riots

Rioters set fire to the parish house at St John’s the night before. Nonetheless, Rev. Rob Fisher said the damage could have been “a lot worse.”

“I am happy to share with you that I could see no other real damage besides that one room, and quite a bit of graffiti and debris around the exterior of the church,” he wrote on Facebook. “Protestors easily could have done a lot worse to our buildings, but they chose not to do that. (The damage I saw to other nearby buildings illustrated this point.)”

During the president’s speech, he vowed to take action and end violent protests.

“I have recommended every governor deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers to dominate the streets,” he said. “We are ending riots and lawlessness, we will end it today.”

He said he is dispatching “thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers and military personnel” to stop the riots.

“I want organizers of this terror to be on notice that you will face severe criminal penalties. We cannot allow the righteous cries of peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob. The biggest victims of this rioting are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities,” he added.

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