There was something surreal about the press conference. A few minutes before the presidential speech, around 6:40 p.m. in Washington (12:40 a.m. in Paris), the American police pushed back many demonstrators who came to demand justice after the death last week of George Floyd. Since then, protest movements and clashes have multiplied on the streets of major American cities.
In a martial tone, Donald Trump gave his answer this Monday evening, with the noise of the helicopters in the background. The President of the United States has decided to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807. This text makes it possible to have recourse to the army on American territory in order to put an end to civil unrest. Promising "law and order", Donald Trump called on the national guard to "dominate the streets". He put pressure on the governors, saying that if the latter fail to restore order by the means at their disposal, then the army will be deployed.
" Law and order "
The Washington case is judged separately. The American president maintains the curfew decided on Sunday by the mayor after another night of protest and confrontation. Above all, he promised criminal sanctions for those who did not respect him, promising "long prison terms" for these offenders. "Thousands and thousands of soldiers" and police will be deployed in the city to put an end to the riots. What happened on Sunday in Washington is "a shame", he denounces.
VIDEO. Death of George Floyd: clashes break out near the White House
Donald Trump described acts of violence committed against the police as "internal terrorism". "I am your president, of law and order, and an ally of all peaceful demonstrators," he said. But in recent days, our nation has been taken by professional anarchists, violent crowds, arsonists, looters, criminals, rioters, Antifa and others. "
The American president had introduced his speech by returning on the death of George Floyd. He "will not be dead in vain, justice will be done," he promised, transmitting his thoughts to the family of the deceased.
Biden: "Trump uses the army against the Americans"
While he was speaking in the entrenched-looking White House gardens, the police dispersed with tear gas hundreds of protesters gathered outside the compound. The goal was to clear the field to Saint John Church.
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
At the end of his speech, Donald Trump indeed left the White House, surrounded by dozens of bodyguards, to go to this church, target Sunday evening of an attempted fire. He went there to “meditate”, a bible in his hand.
Washington's Democratic mayor Muriel Bowser denounced a “shameful” dispersion which, according to New York State governor Andrew Cuomo, only served to offer the president “a photo session”.
"He uses the American army against the Americans," denounced on Twitter Joe Biden, his opponent in the November presidential election. The Democratic candidate must go to Philadelphia on Tuesday morning to speak on "civil unrest". With his face covered with a mask, he went to a black parish church in his state of Delaware on Monday to meet local officials.
