Donald Trump held a fiery teleconference call with state governors, law enforcement, and national security officials on Monday following a weekend of unrest across the nation protesting the death of George Floyd. In the phone call, Mr Trump called the state governors “weak” and said they needed to get “so much tougher” on protesters in the coming days.
Minneapolis was the first site of protests after Mr Floyd was killed during an arrest involving four former police officers. Mr Trump said Minnesota was a “laughing stock” across the world because police stations were set on fire. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was later commended by the president for taking control over the protests in days following.
Six nights of protests has encouraged the president to put pressure on law and order to control crowds. The president also vowed to designate the militant left-wing demonstrators commonly known as “Antifa” a terrorist organisation. He attacked Democratic mayors and governors for failing to call in the National Guard to deal with “anarchists”.
National security officials such as Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Attorney General Bill Barr also said it was time to get tougher on the protests. Mr Barr encouraged governors to "dominate" the streets to arrest "troublemakers", while Mr Esper officials should "dominate the battlespace".
All of this comes as conversations about police brutality have heightened across America.
The lawyer representing the late Mr Floyd and his family revealed an independent autopsy of his death was ordered. This independent autopsy found Mr Floyd died from asphyxia, which differed from the county's report. It also alleged Mr Floyd probably died at the scene and the three other officers contributed to his ultimate death.
The coronavirus pandemic continues despite attention turned towards the protests going on across the US. Health experts have expressed concerns the large gatherings could cause a second wave. Dr Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, revealed, though, that he and the president have not met or spoken about the issue in more than two weeks.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of US politics following a sixth night of protests over the police killing of George Floyd.
Trump ‘rushed to bunker’ after unrest outside White House
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities across the US again on Sunday night, with peaceful demonstrations against police killings of black people overshadowed by unrest that ravaged cities from Philadelphia to Los Angeles – and flared near the White House in Washington DC.
Donald Trump was reportedly moved to a special secure bunker because of the protests. According to The New York Times, the Secret Service “abruptly rushed the president to the underground bunker used in the past during terrorist attacks” on Friday.
Tensions continued outside the White House on Sunday night, as police fired tear gas and stun grenades into a crowd of more than 1,000 chanting protesters across the street in Lafayette Park.
The crowd ran away and piled up road signs and plastic barriers to light a raging fire in a nearby street. Some pulled an American flag from a building and threw it into the blaze.
Around 11pm, The White House’s exterior lights where briefly shut off as the protests continued.
A building in the park with bathrooms and a maintenance office went up in flames and people broke into banks and jewellery stores. As demonstrations persisted past curfew, Washington police said they were responding to multiple fires set around the capital.
The entire Washington, DC, National Guard — roughly 1,700 soldiers — was called in to help control the protests, according to two Defense Department officials who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss the matter.
A building in the park with bathrooms and a maintenance office went up in flames and people broke into banks and jewellery stores. As demonstrations persisted past curfew, Washington police said they were responding to multiple fires set around the capital.
The entire Washington, DC, National Guard — roughly 1,700 soldiers — was called in to help control the protests, according to two Defense Department officials who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss the matter.
Trump was rushed to secret underground bunker during George Floyd White House protests
Police and protesters continued to clash throughout weekend
Fuel truck drives at crowd of protesters in Minneapolis
A fuel truck has driven directly at crowds of protesters marching along a Minneapolis highway – heightening tensions in a city already pushed to the edge.
After a day that had been seen entirely peaceful demonstrations, local television stations were broadcasting live as the truck drove at the people, who numbered in the hundreds.
It was not immediately clear how many people were hurt in the incident, which happened at around 6pm local time, though reports suggested many may have had a very narrow escape.
A fuel truck has driven directly at crowds of protesters marching along a Minneapolis highway – heightening tensions in a city already pushed to the edge.
After a day that had been seen entirely peaceful demonstrations, local television stations were broadcasting live as the truck drove at the people, who numbered in the hundreds.
It was not immediately clear how many people were hurt in the incident, which happened at around 6pm local time, though reports suggested many may have had a very narrow escape.
Fuel truck drives at crowd of protesters on Minneapolis highway
Reports suggest nobody hurt in incident that heightened tensionTrump set to designate Antifa as a terrorist organisation
Donald Trump has claimed that left-wing activists are responsible for the violent protests in Minneapolis and other cities, and declared his administration will move to designate the loose association of militant left-wing demonstrators commonly known as “Antifa” as a terrorist organisation.
“The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organisation,” he said in a series of tweets on Sunday blaming rioting on the group and other “Radical Left” elements.
The attorney general, William Barr, echoed the president’s notions that left-wing elements have been responsible for violent brushes with law enforcement, looting and vandalism in recent days.
“Unfortunately, with the rioting that is occurring in many of our cities around the country, the voices of peaceful protests are being hijacked by violent radical elements,” Mr Barr said.
Trump says US will designate Antifa as a terrorist organisation
Thousands of Americans in cities all across the country have taken to the streets in recent days to protest police brutality after the death of George FloydJoe Biden calls for an end to violence
The former Vice President has called for an end to the violent riots and looting in an emotional new statement.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee posted a lengthy message to his Medium page during the weekend titled “We are a nation furious at injustice”.
Biden said: “Protesting such brutality is right and necessary. It’s an utterly American response. But burning down communities and needless destruction is not. Violence that endangers lives is not. Violence that guts and shutters businesses that serve the community is not.”
Joe Biden issues emotional plea calling for an end to riots: 'We are a nation enraged'
‘The act of protesting should never be allowed to overshadow the reason we protest’Trump backs call for ‘overwhelming force’
As the protests grew on Sunday, Donald Trump retweeted conservative commentator Buck Sexton who called for “overwhelming force” against violent demonstrators.
Blaming Democratic mayors and state governors for failing to get tough with demonstrators, the president tweeted: “These people are ANARCHISTS. Call in our National Guard NOW.”
Trump claimed the National Guard did “a great job” in quelling protests in Minneapolis on Saturday night, and “should be used in other States before it is too late!”
In a series of increasingly blunt messages, he also tweeted: “STRENGTH!”, “LAW & ORDER!” and “FAKE NEWS!”
China calls US ‘habitual quitter’ over WHO withdrawal
China’s foreign ministry has criticised the Trump administration for cutting all ties with the with the World Health Organisation (WHO)
The ministry said America has “revealed its pursuit of power politics and unilateralism” – and also described US as a “habitual quitter”.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters during a daily briefing that the international community disagreed with what he called the selfish behaviour of the US.
US sends Brazil 2 million doses of hydroxychloroquine
The US has sent to Brazil more than 2 million doses of a malaria drug touted by Donald Trump as potentially protecting against and treating the coronavirus – even though scientific evidence has not backed up those uses.
No large, rigorous scientific studies have found the drug, hydroxychloroquine, safe or effective for preventing or treating COVID-19, and some smaller studies have indicated worse outcomes from those taking the drug.
Brazil, now Latin America’s hardest-hit country, continues to see a surge in virus cases, and last week Trump announced that the U.S. was restricting travel from the country to prevent travellers from spreading the virus in the U.S.
In a joint statement with the Brazilian government on Sunday, the White House said the doses of hydroxychloroquine had been sent to Brazil as a prophylactic for front-line health workers and as a therapeutic for those who may come down with the virus. The White House said it was also delivering 1,000 ventilators to Brazil.
George Floyd’s family say Trump didn’t listen during condolence call
The brother of George Floyd had little good to say about the condolence phone call from Donald Trump.
The president said he had expressed his sorrow and told the family the incident was a “horrible thing to witness” and it “looked like there was no excuse” for Floyd’s death.
But Floyd’s brother Philonise said Trump gave him no chance to express himself, telling MSNBC: “He didn’t give me an opportunity to even speak. It was hard. I was trying to talk to him, but he just kept, like, pushing me off, like ‘I don’t want to hear what you’re talking about.’”
More details here:
George Floyd's family say condolence call from Trump was rushed and he didn't let them speak
The president said he expressed his sorrow and said the incident was a 'horrible thing to witness' and it 'looked like there was no excuse' for Floyd’s deathWhite House goes dark
CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller was among those tweeting the rare sight of the White House almost totally dark after the exterior lights were shut off just before 11pm.
Man ‘shot dead by police’ in Louisville, local reports say
A man was fatally shot by law enforcement in Louisville, Kentucky during protests against the killing of George Floyd, according to local reports.
Local police officers and the National Guard were reportedly attempting to break up a gathering in a parking lot outside a grocery store when they were fired upon from the crowd. They returned fire, and one person was at some point shot dead.
The chief of the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, Steve Conrad, told local media that several persons of interest are being interviewed.
More details here:
George Floyd protests: Man 'shot dead by police' in Louisville, local reports say
Police chief said officers and National Guard were shot at from crowd and returned fireChina warns it will retaliate over US moves on Hong Kong
More from the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian’s press conference.
He said US attempts to harm Chinese interests will be met with firm countermeasures, criticising a decision to begin ending special treatment for Hong Kong as well as actions against Chinese students and companies.
China’s parliament last week voted to move forward with imposing national security legislation on Hong Kong, which Donald Trump said on Friday was a tragedy for the people of the city, and which violated China’s promise to protect its autonomy.
Trump ordered his administration to begin the process of eliminating special US treatment for Hong Kong to punish China, ranging from extradition treatment to export controls.
“The announced measures severely interfere with China's internal affairs, damage U.S.-China relations, and will harm both sides. China is firmly opposed to this,” Mr Zhao told reporters during a regular briefing.
“Any words or actions by the US that harm China’s interests will meet with China’s firm counterattack.”
Jay-Z calls Minnesota governor
Rap star Jay-Z called Minnesota’s governor Tim Walz, under pressure to take action over George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.
At a press conference, Walz mentioned the call with Jay-Z and said the rapper and producer knows that “how Minnesota handles this is going to have an impact across the country”.
“It’s a positive sign that someone of a stature, that has a presence like that, is focused in the moment of what Minnesotas are focused on,” he said.
Jay-Z later issued a statement about the call via his label Roc Nation’s official Twitter account, in which he thanked Walz for bringing attorney general Keith Ellison on to take over the case.
“Earlier today, Governor Walz mentioned having a human conversation with me – a dad and a black man in pain,” he wrote. “This is just a first step. I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have.”
Jay-Z calls Minnesota governor as pressure mounts for justice over George Floyd death
Music mogul says he is ‘more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have’Journalists in several cities injured covering protests
Ali Velshi, hit in his leg with a rubber bullet fired by police in Minneapolis, was one of at least a dozen journalists injured in cities across America this weekend. “It felt like a puck hit me in the shin,” said the MSNBC anchor.
CNN cameraman Leonel Mendez and producer Bill Kirkos were both hit by rubber bullets as they were covering the street protests in Minneapolis.
Los Angeles Times reporter Molly Hennessy-Fiske wrote that several journalists in Minneapolis shouted “press” and waved credentials but were nonetheless cornered and chased by police spraying tear gas and firing rubber bullets. One hit her photographer colleague Carolyn Cole in the face.
More details here:
Journalists in several cities injured and arrested covering George Floyd protests
Police reportedly said ‘we don’t care’ before opening fire on press crewCould protests influence Joe Biden’s pick for running mate?
Joe Biden’s search for a running mate could be reshaped by the police killing of George Floyd and the unrest it has ignited across the country, according to political pundits.
Biden, who has already pledged to pick a woman, has cast a wide net in his search. Some of the women on his list have drawn national praise amid the protests over Floyd's death, including Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who delivered an impassioned appeal for calm in her city on Friday night.
But the outcry over police brutality against minorities has complicated the prospects of Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar, who had a controversial record addressing police violence as a prosecutor in the city where Floyd died.
“The more we see this level of hatred, the more I think it’s important to confront it with symbolic acts, including potentially the selection of an African American woman as vice president,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
Bottoms is one of several black women under consideration by Biden’s campaign. Others Biden is believed to be considering include California senator Kamala Harris, Florida congresswoman Val Demings and Stacey Abrams, the Georgia Democrat and voting rights activist.
Former Senate majority leader Harry Reid suggested a resume as a prosecutor could be problematic for potential contenders.
“Prosecutors are not very popular, especially among young people now,” he said. “I’ve got a granddaughter who is graduating from law school and she wants to be a public defender. She doesn’t want to be a prosecutor. And I think a lot of younger people feel the same.”
4,000 arrests since protests began
According to a CNN total, there have now been around 4,000 people arrested across the US since the protests over the police killing of George Floyd began.
After the sixth successive day of demonstrations, at least 40 US cities have imposed curfews and National Guard members have been “activated” across 15 states.
The National Guard said on Sunday that 5,000 soldiers and airmen had been called up, but that “state and local law enforcement agencies remain responsible for security.”
Donald Trump has called on state governors to make use of the soldiers and airmen, but his national security adviser said the president will not take the dramatic step, for now, of seeking control over the National Guard.
Iran condemns US officials for ‘violence against your people’
A spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry has condemned the American “regime” over police attempts to quell the protests.
The spokesman said to the demonstrators: “The world has heard your outcry over this state oppression. The world is standing with you”.
He added: “To American officials and police, stop violence against your people and let them breathe.”
China condemns ‘social ill’ of racism in America
More international condemnation. China’s foreign affairs ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian – who has already had plenty to say about the US cutting ties with the WHO and the elimination of special US treatment for Hong Kong – has reportedly called on the US to tackle its problems with “racial discrimination and violent law enforcement by police”.
According to CNN, Mr Zhao said: “We are following the latest developments around the death of Mr Floyd, Black Lives Matter and their human rights should be protected.”
The broadcaster also reported the spokesman saying that “the racial discrimination against minorities is a social ill in the United States ... what happened again reflects there are serious problems that should be urgently addressed, that is the racial discrimination and violent law enforcement by police”.
BBC cameraman ‘clearly targeted’ by police, says editor
The BBC’s North America editor Jon Sopel has shared footage of BBC cameraman Peter Murtaugh being rushed by police close to the White House in Washington DC last night. Sopel said he had been “clearly targeted”.
Kremlin cautious on Trump’s G7 invite
The Kremlin said on Monday it needed to see more details before responding to Donald Trump’s proposal to invite Russia to attend a G7 nations summit, but that president Vladimir Putin supported dialogue on the issue.
Trump said on Saturday he would postpone a G7 summit he had hoped to hold next month until September or later and expand the list of invitees to include Australia, Russia, South Korea and India.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was not clear if the proposal was official and said Moscow needed to know more about the proposed summit, including what might be on the agenda and the format, before responding.
