Donald Trump boasts he's the best president for black America 'since Abraham Lincoln' one day after tear-gassing Black Lives Matter protesters for a photo-op

President Trump said Tuesday that he ranks No. 2 after Abraham Lincoln - the president who freed the slaves - in helping black America. 

'My Admin has done more for the Black Community than any President since Abraham Lincoln,' the president tweeted. 'Passed Opportunity Zones with Sen. Tim Scott, guaranteed funding for HBCU's, School Choice, passed Criminal Justice Reform, lowest Black unemployment, poverty, and crime rates in history ...  ...AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME!' 

The president's comments come as the country has seen days of protests and unrest after the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis man, at the hands of a white police officer. 

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President Trump is photographed outside St. John's Church in Washington Monday afternoon moments after a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest was cleared off H Street using tear gas

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Despite Trump trying to quash the protests over the death of George Floyd, he pitched himself to the black community as the best president 'since Abraham Lincoln' 

Trump's campaign has made a concerted effort to go after the black vote, while Trump has continued to use some langauge that appeases his predominantly white base 

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Protesters near the White House were tear-gassed Monday afternoon so that the president could walk through Lafayette park and take a photo in front of St. John's Church, which had its basement lit on fire when demonstrations turned ugly over the weekend 

Trump's response to the chaos has swung between trying to appease his predominantly white base - while seemingly still aiming at the goal to win over more of the black vote in the November election.  

The president's re-election team has made a concerted effort to reach out to black voters, an untapped demographic for most Republican politicians. 

Surrogate Katrina Pierson and Scott, a black Republican senator from South Carolina, recently jumped on presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's problematic 'you ain't black' gaffe. 

Biden had told popular radio show host Charlamagne tha God that he 'ain't black' if you 'have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump.' 

The Democrat apologized several hours later on a call with black business leaders saying he shouldn't have been 'so cavalier.'  

But while trying to take political advantage of Biden's mistake, Trump on Twitter has dog-whistled using racist language, like calling protesters 'THUGS' and tweeting Friday, 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts' - a 1960s-era phrase used by a racist Miami police chief. 

In person, several hours later, he told reporters he had called Floyd's family members and they were 'terrific,' while saying he was unaware that the phrase 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts,' had racist origins. 

'But I don't know where it came from, I don't know where it originated,' the president said Friday afternoon.

On Monday Trump said the 'biggest victims' of rioting 'are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities.' 'I will fight to protect you,' he pledged. 

He then used a phrase that would play well for his base: 'I am your president of law an order.' 

'And an ally of all peaceful protesters,' he said. 

Playing out on the split-screen was law enforcement clearing Black Lives Matter protesters and their allies, including local clergy, using tear gas, police on horseback and rubber bullets. 

Those at the scene reported it had been a peaceful protest until law enforcement acted.  

Trump wanted to walk across Lafayette Park for a photo-op in front of St. John's church, which had its basement lit on fire briefly over the weekend, when demonstrations turned ugly. 

In a symbolic gesture to his base, the president held up a Bible at the site.  

On Tuesday, Biden gave an address on race where he called out Trump's racist language and the photo-op, while pledging to bring Americans together.   

The Trump campaign responded by sending out an email entitled, '"Architect of Mass Incarceration" Joe Biden is A Race-Baiter Who Seeks to Sow Division,' pointing out some of Biden's gaffes and his role in the 1994 crime legislation, which has been blamed for the massive imprisonment of black Americans. 

Tuesday's tweets weren't the first time Trump has compared himself to Lincoln.

At a coronavirus-themed Fox News Channel town hall at the Lincoln Memorial in early May, Trump indicated that he believed both he and Lincoln were treated badly by the press. 

'Look, I am greeted with a hostile press the likes of which no president has ever seen. The closest would be that gentleman right up there,' Trump said. 

He pointed at the huge statue of Lincoln that was several feet away. 

'I believe I am treated worse,' he said.