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Trump Threatens To Deploy Military To Halt Anti-Racist Protests

Donald Trump has threatened to deploy the country’s military unless state authorities put an end to ongoing demonstrations across America.

Describing himself as the “president of law and order”, Trump vowed to mobilise armed forces if mayors and state governors refused to call out the National Guard.

Trump announced the crackdown on nationwide anti-racism protests in a surreal speech from the White House Rose Garden on Monday while police flash grenades could be heard nearby.

Speaking as police deployed tear gas on protesters just outside the White House, Trump vowed harsher action against protesters.

The president made no mention of violent actions taken by police in recent days against protesters, nor did he make any call for national unity.

Instead, he said: “I am mobilising all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson. And to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your Second Amendment rights.”

Trump added: “Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled.

“If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”

Protesters were peacefully gathered outside the White House even as Trump began speaking. Authorities, however, fired tear gas and flash grenades in an attempt to move them away from the area before the president’s address began.

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