Video above: President Trump stands with Bible in front of St. John's Episcopal Church President Donald Trump visited the 200-year-old church near the White House that was set on fire as demonstrators clashed with police over the weekend.Beginning with James Madison, every person who has held the office of president has attended a service at St. John’s Church.Law enforcement cleared protesters out of the area with tear gas before Trump’s visit. Tear gas canisters could be heard exploding as Trump spoke in the Rose Garden earlier. He then walked over to the church.WARNING: Some may find the following video graphic or disturbingThe protesters appeared to be acting peacefully before they were dispersed by force. In a statement to ABC News, a White House spokesman said law enforcement pushed people in order to enforce Washington's 7 p.m. curfew."The perimeter was expanded to help enforce the city's 7 p.m. curfew in the same area where rioters attempted to burn down one of our nation's most historic churches the night before," Judd Deere, a White House deputy press secretary, said. "Protesters were given three warnings by the U.S. Park Police."CNN reports that the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Mariann Edgar Budde, said she is "outraged" with the visit.Budde told the news agency that President Trump visited her church without notice."The President did not pray when he came to St. John's, nor as you just articulated, did he acknowledge the agony of our country right now," Budde told CNN.Budde was also critical of the president's use of the Bible. "The president just used a Bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus," she said.Former Vice President Joe Biden also responded on Twitter to Trump's visit to the church, saying, "He's using the American military against the American people.He tear-gassed peaceful protesters and fired rubber bullets. For a photo."Trump is urging the nation’s governors to get tougher with violent protesters and to deploy the National Guard.He said in the Rose Garden that he is an ally of peaceful protesters, but he stressed that “I am your president of law and order.”CNN and Hearst TV contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON — Video above: President Trump stands with Bible in front of St. John's Episcopal Church
President Donald Trump visited the 200-year-old church near the White House that was set on fire as demonstrators clashed with police over the weekend.
Beginning with James Madison, every person who has held the office of president has attended a service at St. John’s Church.
Law enforcement cleared protesters out of the area with tear gas before Trump’s visit. Tear gas canisters could be heard exploding as Trump spoke in the Rose Garden earlier. He then walked over to the church.
WARNING: Some may find the following video graphic or disturbing
The protesters appeared to be acting peacefully before they were dispersed by force.
In a statement to , a White House spokesman said law enforcement pushed people in order to enforce Washington's 7 p.m. curfew.
"The perimeter was expanded to help enforce the city's 7 p.m. curfew in the same area where rioters attempted to burn down one of our nation's most historic churches the night before," Judd Deere, a White House deputy press secretary, said. "Protesters were given three warnings by the U.S. Park Police."
that the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Mariann Edgar Budde, said she is "outraged" with the visit.
Budde told the news agency that President Trump visited her church without notice.
"The President did not pray when he came to St. John's, nor as you just articulated, did he acknowledge the agony of our country right now," Budde told CNN.
Budde was also critical of the president's use of the Bible.
"The president just used a Bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, and one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus," she said.
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Former Vice President Joe Biden also responded on Twitter to Trump's visit to the church, saying, "He's using the American military against the American people.He tear-gassed peaceful protesters and fired rubber bullets. For a photo."
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Trump is urging the nation’s governors to get tougher with violent protesters and to deploy the National Guard.
He said in the Rose Garden that he is an ally of peaceful protesters, but he stressed that “I am your president of law and order.”
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
CNN and Hearst TV contributed to this report.
