In Pictures

In Pictures: Protesters teargassed for Trump photo-op

The US president slammed after police used tear gas to clear protesters from Trump’s way as he visited a nearby church.

Protestors are tear gassed as the police disperse them near the White House on June 1, 2020 as demonstrations against George Floyd''s death continue. - Police fired tear gas outside the White House lat — Protesters teargassed as police disperse them near the White House. [Roberto Schmidt/AFP]

US President Donald Trump spurred fresh outrage on Monday after police used tear gas to clear protesters from outside the White House so he could pose for photographs at a nearby church damaged during the civil unrest.

The move earned him a sharp rebuke from the city mayor, the Episcopal bishop, and leading Democrats, including former vice president Joe Biden, who decried the use of force merely “for a photo”.

Trump’s visit to the historic St John’s Church, across the street from the White House, came after he delivered an address denouncing vandalism that followed anti-racism protests gripping the country for a week.

As he spoke, law enforcement, including military police, could be seen firing tear gas to clear peaceful protesters in Lafayette Park, outside the White House, so the president could walk over to the church.

Known as “the Church of the Presidents,” St John’s was sprayed with graffiti and partially damaged by fire during unrest on Sunday.

The protests were triggered following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota last week.

epa08459183 US President Donald J. Trump poses with a bible outside St. John''s Episcopal Church after delivering remarks in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 01 June 2020. Tru — US President Donald Trump poses with a bible outside St John's Episcopal Church. The visit enraged Washington's Episcopal bishop, Marian Budde. [Shawn Thew/EPA]

A row of police officers face off with demonstrators outside the White House to protest the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis, in Washington, DC, on June 1, 2020. - Poli — A row of police officers face off with demonstrators outside the White House. [Olivier Douliery/AFP]

Police begin to clear demonstrators gathered as they protest the death of George Floyd, Monday, June 1, 2020, near the White House in Washington. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis polic — Police begin to clear demonstrators near the White House. [Alex Brandon/AP Photo]

Police move in to eject protesters from the vicinity of St. John’s Church before U.S. President Donald Trump paid a visit, during demonstrations against the death in Minneapolis police custody of Geor — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo expressed outrage over the incident. [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]

Riot police rush protestors to clear Lafayette Park and the area around it across from the White House for President Donald Trump to be able to walk through for a photo opportunity in front of St. Joh — Riot police rush protesters to clear Lafayette Park and the area around it across from the White House for President Trump to be able to walk through. [Ken Cedeno/Reuters]

Riot police detain a man as they rush protestors to clear Lafayette Park and the area around it across from the White House for President Donald Trump to be able to walk through for a photo opportunit — Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser called the move "shameful". [Ken Cedeno/Reuters]

Demonstrators gather to protest the death of George Floyd, Monday, June 1, 2020, near the White House in Washington. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers. (AP Photo/Evan Vu — President Trump vowed on Monday to order a military crackdown on once-in-a-generation violent protests gripping the United States. [Evan Vucci/AP Photo]

A demonstrator is taken into custody by police after a curfew took effect during a protest over the death of George Floyd, Monday, June 1, 2020, near the White House in Washington. Floyd died after be — Trump said he was sending thousands of troops onto the streets of the capital and threatening to deploy soldiers to states unable to regain control. [Alex Brandon/AP Photo]

U.S. President Donald Trump walks between lines of riot police in Lafayette Park across from the White House after walking to St John''s Church for a photo opportunity during ongoing protests over rac — Trump walks between lines of riot police in Lafayette Park across from the White House after walking to St John's Church for a photo op during ongoing protests over racial inequality. [Tom Brenner/Reuters]