NEW: Defense Sec. Esper asserts to NBCNews that he had no advance notice before Pres. Trump led him and other officials to St. John’s Episcopal Church for a photo-op: “I thought I was going to do two things: to see some damage and to talk to the troops'
Milley and Esper were on their way to the FBI’s Washington field office to monitor protests with Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray when they were diverted to the White House to update the president. After the briefing, Trump delivered an address in the Rose Garden in which he threatened to deploy the military to quell the unrest over theTrump ended the speech by saying he was going to pay his respects"to a very, very special place,” but he didn’t elaborate.
“They were not aware that park police and law enforcement made the decision to clear the square,” the official said. Trump’s visit to St. John’s church came a day after it was vandalized amid chaotic demonstrations triggered by the death of Floyd., including the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
"He didn't come to church to pray, he didn't come to church to offer condolences to those who are grieving," Budde said Tuesday in an interview with Craig Melvin on NBC's"TODAY" show."He didn't come to commit to healing our nation, all the things that we would expect and long for from the highest leader in the land."
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