US President Donald Trump thanked himself for a great job on handling protests across the country, including in Washington DC, where, he claims, there are “no problems,” despite evidence to the contrary.
“DC had no problems last night. Many arrests. Great job done by all. Overwhelming force. Domination. Likewise, Minneapolis was great (thank you President Trump!),” the president tweeted on Tuesday.
D.C. had no problems last night. Many arrests. Great job done by all. Overwhelming force. Domination. Likewise, Minneapolis was great (thank you President Trump!).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2020
“No problems” in the nation’s capital is a rosy outlook, and one critic certainly don’t share with the president. National Guard troops were deployed in the city to manage protests on Monday, and helicopters were eventually dispatched to break up gatherings and enforce a curfew.
On Monday, the president also visited St John’s Church near the White House, a visit that was reportedly only possible thanks to police removing demonstrators near the church, even using tear gas in the process, a move that has been heavily criticized.
“Teargassing peaceful protesters without provocation just so that the president could pose for photos outside a church dishonors every value that faith teaches us,” Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said of the church visit in a joint statement.
The president thanking himself for a job well done is not likely to convert many Trump critics, especially considering violent protests over the death of George Floyd continue in cities across the country, with police officers being shot and businesses being destroyed.