President Trump mobilizes military in the wake of protests
President also calls on governors to get tougher - NBC's Alice Barr reports
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KYMA, KECY) - President Donald Trump announced Monday he's mobilizing the U.S. military to secure the streets of the nation's capitol in the wake of violent protests against the killing of George Floyd.
The President also threatened to send American troops to cities across the country to put out flareups unless the nation's governors do more to secure their states.
Trump has invoked an act that allows him to send active duty troops into the streets to engage with civilians. It's something that hasn't been done since the racially-charged Rodney King riots of 1992.
"If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents - then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them." said the President during a brief press conference in the Rose Garden.
His comments came as police squared off with hundreds of protestors just a block away from the White House.
"As we speak I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers - military personnel - and law enforcement officers - to stop the rioting." said the President.
President Trump then walked across Pennsylvania Avenue to St. John's - long known as the Church of the Presidents - to hold up a Bible in front of the historic building damaged by vandals Sunday night.
"We have a great country." he said.
Earlier in the day the President demanded more action from the states. In a video teleconference obtained by NBC News, the President tells governors "most of you are weak."
The President's presumptie Democratic rival, Joe Biden, met with supporters in a Delaware church Monday. He also held a virtual roundtable with mayors.
"People are angry...We need that anger - we need that to compel us to move forward." said Biden.
The protests have taken the country's focus off coronavirus. Medical experts worry the mass gatherings could lead to devastating new outbreaks.
