Lafayette Square Bible Photo Op
Law enforcement tear-gassed peaceful protesters so Trump could walk to a church and pose holding a Bible he didn't read. Minutes before, he had threatened to deploy the military against American citizens.
On June 1, 2020, during nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd, law enforcement used tear gas and riot control tactics to forcefully clear peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square — the park directly in front of the White House.
The reason: so Trump could walk to St. John's Episcopal Church across the street and pose for photographs holding a Bible. He did not enter the church, pray, or read from the Bible. He held it up awkwardly for the cameras, then left.
Minutes before the clearing operation, Trump had addressed the nation from the Rose Garden, threatening to deploy the United States military against American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights, telling governors to "dominate" protesters.
The reaction was swift:
- Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde said she was "outraged" the church was used as a "backdrop" without permission
- The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church condemned using "a church building and the Holy Bible for partisan political purposes"
- Former Defense Secretary James Mattis broke his silence to condemn Trump, saying he was "the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people"