Patrick Semansky / AP

President Donald Trump speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, June 1, 2020.

Police fired tear gas at peaceful demonstrators outside the White House Monday, just moments before President Trump addressed the nation about violent protests that have unfolded across the country over the killing of black people by police.

Soon after his address, Trump used the path cleared by police to walk to St. John's Church, which had sustained fire damage during protests the night before.

During his address from the Rose Garden, said he was dispatching "thousands and thousands" of armed soldiers, military personnel, and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting and looting seen in recent days.

"I am the president of law and order, and an ally of all peaceful protesters, but in recent days our nation has been gripped by professional anarchists, looters, criminals, Antifa, and others," Trump said.

As he spoke, police in riot gear and shields pushed their way through the peaceful crowd in Lafayette Park. Hundreds of demonstrators had peacefully gathered when police, Secret Service and military police suddenly moved in to disperse the crowd.

Amid the booms of police firing rounds, choppers firing overhead and protesters clamoring as while police used shields to push through the crowd, Trump threatened to deploy the military to quell the protests.

"As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults and wanton destruction of property."

Protests have ignited across the country, many of them turning violent, over the killing of black people this year, including George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last week.

"For George and his family, justice will be heard," Trump said as protesters fled from tear gas canisters fired just yards away. "But we cannot allow the peaceful cries of protesters to be drowned out by an angry mob."

Minutes later, Trump was seen leaving the White House on foot, heading toward St. John's Episcopal Church.

Then Trump, who has on only a few occasions been seen publicly inside a church, posed with a bible and members of his staff outside the 204-year-old church.

Video of the short visit showed Trump awkwardly holding the bible in front of him, shifting it with his right hand to hold on the side of his head, then settling it tucked to his side while photographers clicked away.

"Is that your bible?" a reporter asked.

"It's a bible," the president responded.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.
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