The peaceful crowd that gathered in front of the White House on Monday 1er June, had been bluntly dispersed a few minutes earlier by police using tear gas. It was about clearing up. Surrounded by Secret Service officers responsible for his protection, Donald Trump then left the presidential compound and walked across Lafayette Square and the street along it to stop in front of the Saint John Episcopal Church. "The Presidents' Church" had been targeted the day before, in the midst of the night unrest, by a fire that had caused only minor damage.
The President of the United States posed in front of the building, facing the cameras that accompanied him, ostensibly brandishing a Bible. He then invited White House secretary general Mark Meadows, his national security adviser Robert O’Brien, theattorney general (Minister of Justice), William Barr, Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, to take his place, as well as his spokesperson, Kayleigh McEnany. Donald Trump clearly wanted to stage " the president of law and order ", As he had defined moments earlier in a short speech, inspired by the formula of the Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, during the troubles of 1968.
Donald Trump has set the course he now intends to follow
Announced at the last minute, this speech was expected. Donald Trump had been invisible for two days after peaceful protests followed by spillovers spread across much of the country, a week after the death of an African American, George Floyd, at the hands of Minneapolis police, the May 25. The night before, the decision to plunge the White House into darkness when fires broke out nearby had reinforced a sense of absence.
In seven minutes, Donald Trump charted the course he now intends to follow: that of the repression of a movement of which he only retained looting and acts of vandalism, assimilated to a " domestic terrorism " " We're ending it now ", He assured. George Floyd's memory was only given three sentences. Severe with " local and state authorities (who) did not take the necessary measures to protect their fellow citizens ", The president agreed" to deploy the US military " if " a city or state refuses to take the necessary decisions to defend the life and property of its residents " He also announced the deployment of " thousands of heavily armed soldiers " in Washington.
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