CNN anchor Don Lemon accused President Trump of clearing protesters from near the White House for a “photo-op” in front of the recently burned St. John’s Episcopal Church.
On Monday, Trump issued an address regarding the riots that have precipitated from the protests honoring George Floyd. Just prior to his address, law enforcement pepper-sprayed a crowd of protesters to clear a path for Trump to walk from the White House to the church. During CNN’s coverage of the moment, Lemon claimed Trump pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters just to take a photo.
“We work in television,” he said. “We know when someone is producing a moment. And we know this president — this president comes from a reality show background. And the fact that he says that he is going to protect protesters, peaceful protesters and then sends in military or police officers to push them away when they’re being peaceful is just really outrageous.”
“And, Erin, we’re New Yorkers. Donald Trump standing in front of a church with a Bible, really? Let’s just be honest here. When was the last time Donald Trump saw a church even before he was president of the United States? When was the last time he cracked open a Bible? I’m just saying this is all for show,” he added.
Trump delivered his address to the nation just before 7 p.m. EST, when the citywide curfew in Washington, D.C., took effect. Protesters could be heard being forced from the area just before his address began.
St. John’s suffered fire damage after being burned during the riots that took place on Sunday night. The church has been visited by every president since James Madison. Floyd, a Minneapolis man, died after being arrested by a police officer who knelt on his neck. Protests over his death have devolved into riots filled with looting and arson in several cities throughout the country.
