Peaceful protesters across the street from the White House were tear gassed as Donald Trump made his first presidential address since the death of George Floyd.
The US president last night vowed a massive show of force to end violent protests over the unarmed black man's death while in police custody last Monday.
But at nearly the same moment he spoke in the Rose Garden, law enforcement personnel, including officers on horseback, moved on protesters in Lafayette Park.
And tear gas and rubber bullets were used to disperse the non-violent demonstrations. The police action against the protesters gave Trump a safe passage from the White House to nearby St John's Episcopal Church.