On Monday, at the White House, President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing protests and riots across the country following the death of George Floyd, who was killed under police custody last week in Minneapolis.

“My first and highest duty as president is to defend our great country and the American people,” President Trump declared during his speech. He added that he swore an oath to uphold the nation’s laws, so that is exactly what he will do.

After three consecutive days and nights of violent protesting, rioting, and looting in America’s major cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Cleveland, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington DC, Trump promised to put an end to the riots with “immediate action.”

The President noted that if cities or states refuse to take actions that are necessary to protect the life and property of their residents, then he will deploy the United States military to immediately take action. “We will end it now,” Trump said. As he spoke at the White House, booms and roars of flash grenades can be heard outside as police pushed angry protesters out of Lafayette Park.

After his speech, the President walked out of the White House, walked through Lafayette Park filled with protesters, and stood in front of the historic St. John’s church that was closed after the violence and mayhem caused by the protesters on Sunday. Trump held up a Bible in front of the church and stood there for a few moments with his White House staff and cabinet members, including White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Attorney General William Barr, and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

In his speech, the President mentioned that landmarks across the United States are being set on fire and destroyed by rioters, including the iconic and historic St. John’s church that was set on fire last weekend and the World War II memorial in Washington DC that was vandalized with graffiti.

The President declared that what the people are doing are “not peaceful protests” but rather “acts of domestic terror.” “The destruction of innocent life and the spilling of innocent blood is an offense to humanity and a crime against God,” he said. The President vowed that once laws are fully restored, the government will help businesses and families across the country.

The President warned that he is deploying thousands of troops to stop the violent rioting, looting, vandalism, and assaults in Washington DC. He also said that a 7 PM curfew would be enforced.