Sen. Tim Scott Criticizes Trump for Clearing Lafayette Square for a Photo-Op
President Donald Trump is receiving criticism from both sides of the political aisle after law enforcement cleared peaceful protesters from the area in front of the White House ahead of the curfew on Monday.
After the president delivered remarks on violent demonstrations that have swept the nation, he walked through Lafayette Square — where protesters were gathered before his speech — to the historic St. John’s Church where he posed with a Bible.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) told Politico on Tuesday that Trump should not have cleared the peaceful protesters for the moment, “If your question is, should you use tear gas to clear a path so the president can go have a photo-op, the answer is no.”
Trump’s decision to clear Lafayette Square comes after days of violent demonstrations erupted across the country in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
Floyd died in police custody on May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground by placing his knee on Floyd’s neck. That officer has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Many protests across the country have been peaceful, and in some instances, police officers have knelt in solidarity with the protesters.
But in several cities, the demonstrations have turned violent as protesters started looting, burning, and vandalizing property.
Trump responded to the violence in an address at the White House on Monday, “We cannot allow the righteous cries of peaceful protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob.”
“In recent days, our nation has been gripped by professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals, rioters, Antifa, and others,” he added.
Trump vowed to “stop the violence” and said that if governors and mayors did not reign in the violence, he would deploy the military to do so.
After his speech, Trump walked out of the White House to St. John’s church for a picture.
But he has received criticism from politicians and faith leaders for the move, as IJR reported.
Scott, who is the only black Republican senator, has not been afraid to criticize Trump for his comments in the wake of Floyd’s death
During an interview on Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” Scott said he told Trump that some of his tweets about the protests are “not constructive.”
He added, “I’m thankful that we can have the conversation. We don’t always agree on any of his tweets beforehand, but we have the ability to sit down and dialogue on how we move this nation forward.”
Despite his criticism of Trump’s photo-op, Scott said he approves of the president’s push to quell the violence.
“Order is necessary for us to actually have the conversation about Mr. Floyd,” he said, adding, “We have to be willing to have a raw conversation about justice in this nation.”
Rioting scum try to burn a church across the street from the White House. The Secret Service asks protesters to move farther back behind a new line. They refuse to move. The law enforcement make them move. The President walks across the street to the church which is fortunately not destroyed. Stands for a time with a Bible and goes back to the White House. The media makes it seem “peaceful” protesters were viciously attacked. You are not peaceful if you refuse to move to protest at a location a short distance away. Liberal religious leaders whine. Trump goes to work for the American people.
Peaceful protesters, peaceful protesters, give us all a break you griggin parrot . They weren’t peaceful, and to bad they didn’t get to wear more new off those bstons….
President Trump DID NOT clear ANYTHING, the SECRET SERVICE, whose JOB it is to PROTECT the POTUS, ANY POTUS, THEY CLEARED the path!! ASSHAT..
Oh Tim, you seem to have a problem with everything. Take a pill and call back in the morning. Or, perhaps the President was peacefully “protesting” and instead of blocking streets, he cleared them.
Actually Louis Farrakhan had the best answer. He feels that black people need their own separate country free of white oppression . I couldn’t agree more. Let’s give them any area they want and welfare money for say 50 years or so or until they can get on their feet.
I find that to be a great solution. I heard there is a patch of land for sale in Gambia that is available for a good price. I’d also offer them free transport on ships, the same transport as they came here on. Then they can be returned to their “roots” and live happily ever after. I get the movie rights though.
That place is called Liberia. Turned out great…
If you are an Evangelical and you still support Dear Leader, you ought to be embarrassed. You don’t believe a word you ever said. You are fake.
Hey, I’m sure in your democrapic utopian world, your leaders would take such great care of you two. The two of you have the right names though: 1) you drop it in, 2) you wipe your democrap with. 4 more years to keep the country running in the right direction, KAG, then Mr. Crenshaw of Texas to insure our country is never,ever to become a socialist dump so many uninformed think they would like to live in. If you two really don’t like it here, why in your gods name don’t you leave? I know why, your mommies won’t let you leave the backyard. Someday if you get out of your mommies house and see the world by joining the military,and see what real nasty places to live are like. You don’t like our President is he threatens to take away all the hand-outs the dimwiticrats give you. Try leading instead of being a follower of the socialist ideals that don’t and will never be in place in OUR GREAT REPUBLIC.
“why in your gods name don’t you leave?” Alan
Spokeen like the true fascist that you are, Alan.
Scottie child, Alan is not one who does not like it here. You are one of the many who can leave and don’t let the door hit you in the ass.
Paul is confused about what America is and what it could be.
He is advocating for a monotone America that looks, thinks, votes, and talks just like him. He is definitely not advocating for diversity.
In other words, he is a fascist who is quite willing to turn America into a one-party state. Don’t be like Paul.
I don’t know of any fascists that force people out. I’m pretty sure they locked them all in.
That’s because you are confused by fascism, OBSIDIAN.
Fascists want a one-party state with no opposition. It doesn’t matter if their opposition are locked up OR expelled forcibly or voluntarily.
How many times on IJR alone have you seen anybody say something along the line of “If you don’t like America so much, why don’t you leave?” Ask yourself this. Who are the members here saying things like that? Not me. Not Phyllis. Not john. Not Phoenix. Not Ed. No, it is the right-wing xenophobes and white nationalists, etcetera, who can’t stand opposition and who WANT one-party rule in the US – our fascists.
If you don’t want to be included in that group, then don’t ever state something as dangerous as that.
How is it fascist that if you don’t like something you leave? If I don’t like a movie, i’ll get up and leave. I’ll go to one I prefer. That’s not fascism, that’s common sense. Fascism is turning the last free country on earth, into one of the many communist/socialist ones that already exist. Where does a free man go outside of the U.S? A socialist can go to any one of the countries they tout, Sweden, Australia, France, etc.
Again, OBSIDIAN exposes his ignorance.
One CANNOT be both a communist/socialist (they are two different ideologies) AND a fascist at the same time. That is impossible, but confused people, such as Confused Bob The Projectionist and Confused James The Projectionist and banstan and a whole bunch more DO think that that is possible. They are all conflating all of those ideologies together either because they don’t know any better (ignorance) or they want to confuse you.
Also, the early fsscists made things so uncomfortable or unwelcoming or unsafe for their perceived “enemies” because they wanted them either out of “their” country or they wanted them dead. It is obvious, OBSIDIAN, that you are following in your fascistic heroes’ footsteps by saying the exact same things – “if you can’t stand MY country, then leave it”, right? Yes, you are.
so Trump derangement syndrome has taken over everyone these days.
The Devil is busy, and he’s an equal opportunity employer… He’s not at all fussy about who’s soul he’ll try to take to Hell with him, even the Elect will be deceived!
My last paycheck was $9500 working 20 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can’t believe how easy it was once I tried it out. The potential with this is endless.
This is what I do…………… Perk20.Com
Everybody who’s anybody knows that THE TYRANT TODDLER, trumpuke, is a completely self serving asshole, attention whore and TRAITOR beneath whom there is no betrayal, blasphemy or obscenity.
Tim Scott might want to have a word or two with King Donald The Loser about optics, too. His Majesty seems a bit confused about that.
You and Johnny get so triggered. Relax take your xanax