As the unrest in Minneapolis in response to a black man being killed in police custody spreads to other cities, President Trump tried to walk a fine line: for law and order in the face of rioting and looting, against the circumstances that led to George Floyd’s death.

Attorney General William Barr announced a federal civil rights investigation into Floyd’s death on Friday, describing the video showing a since-arrested Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the handcuffed man’s neck as he pleaded for his life as “harrowing to watch and deeply disturbing.” Trump requested this action in a statement after Floyd died, saying, “I have asked for this investigation to be expedited and greatly appreciate all of the work done by law enforcement.”