Donald Trump is rebuked by church leaders again for SECOND religious photo stunt in two days: D.C. archbishop calls president and Melania posing with statue of Pope John Paul II 'reprehensible' after storm over THAT walk to church
As Washington, D.C. cleaned up Tuesday morning, Trump took first lady Melania on a trip to the national shrine to Pope John Paul II – a second religious visit in two days that caused church leaders to chastise the president.
'I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree,' Archbishop Wilton Gregory said in a statement just before Trump's visit to the national shrine
Gregory is the nation's highest-ranking African-American bishop and has led the Archdiocese of Washington for just over a year.
In the statement, the Archbishop pointed to the late Pope John Paul Il's defense of human rights in condemning 'the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace.'
Although he did not use the president's name once in the statement, it was titled 'Archbishop Wilton Gregory Issues Statement on Planned Presidential Visit,' and claimed that Trump's actions Monday and Tuesday were all for the photo-op.
Donald Trump's campaign aide and attorney blasted the Archbishop's comments, claiming he is a 'pawn of the leftist media.'
'Distracting from the powerful image and statement of our United States President holding up a Bible in front of an historic American Church,' Jenna Ellis tweeted in response to a post about Gregory's comments.
'This bishop is unfortunately a pawn of the leftist media that thrives on destruction of all that is moral and just,' she continued.
About five hours after making the visit to the shrine, Melania released four photos from the short trip to her official @FLOTUS Twitter page and shared a message where she reasserted her husband's 'passion for religious freedom.'
'@POTUS & I honored the life & legacy of Saint John Paul II at @JP2Shrine today,' the first lady posted. 'His passion & dedication for religious freedom is a legacy that we must protect for people around the world.'
One of the images is of the first couple from behind kneeling in front of the altar in the shrine's chapel.
Trump's visit to the shrine came the morning after he made a very public trek from the White House to St. John's Episcopal Church, which caught on fire during riots on Sunday.
Posing with a saint: Trump and Melania went to the national shrine to John Paul II, the late pope who is now a saint, in his second invocation of religious imagery in two days
A campaign legal aide defended the visit, claiming the Archbishop slamming the president is a 'pawn of the leftist media'
Five hours after the visit, Melania posted a tweet claiming her husband has a 'passion and dedication for religious freedom'
One of the images Melania included in her post on Twitter was from behind of her and Trump kneeling at the altar in the shrine's chapel
Silent: Trump and Melania said nothing after inspecting a wreath at the shrine to Pope John Paul II. It is run by the Knights of Columbus. His White House Counsel Pat Cipollone was once the Catholic men's society's general counsel
Melania claims to be Catholic but has never been seen publicly attending a Catholic Church
The visit to the shrine in Northeast Washington, D.C. comes after another night of violent protests in the nation's capital, which was spared by outrage after a black man, George Floyd, was killed by a white cop
President Trump claimed Tuesday morning that there were 'no problems' in Washington D.C. on Monday, but also claimed there were 'many arrests' as violent protesters continued to ransack the streets of the nation's capital in another night of riots over George Floyd's death
View from the motorcade: Trump's trip in the Beast with Melania took him past dozens of protesters and banners hung in its path highlighting the death of George Floyd
Trolling Trump: Protesters on the way to the shrine highlighted Trump fleeing to the White House bunker on Friday night when protests raged outside the executive mansion
On the intersection: A man dressed as Abraham Lincoln offered a message for Trump
This is what normal looks like: Despite Trump's claim, the scenes in the nation's capital were similar to other nights in the city – and even saw military helicopter hovering over protesters and rioters in an attempt to disperse the crowd
Demonstrators continued to class with law enforcement blocking off streets and sections of the city
The president walked from the White House to St. John's Episcopal Church on Monday, which was set on fire during Sunday's riots, for a photo-op where he held up his bible after declaring in Rose Garden remarks that he is America's 'law and order president'
White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway also had to defend Trump's actions on Tuesday after Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington criticized the photo-op in front of the church.
'That is not — quote — her church. That is not — quote — her Bible. We don't look into other people's hearts and souls and discern and judge what their faith is, why the president felt compelled to walk there, why he held that Bible up.'
'That is a symbol to everyone that we will not allow arsonists and anarchists who set that fire ablaze, who really demean the memory of those who have lost their lives in the name of their respective faiths and religions,' Conway told Fox News host Harris Faulkner on Tuesday. 'We won't allow them to dissuade us from practicing our religion.'
Budde said of Trump's photo-op at the D.C. church: 'He took the symbols sacred to our tradition and stood in front of a house of prayer in full expectation that would be a celebratory moment.'
Donald Trump bragged Tuesday morning that law enforcement 'dominated' in Washington, D.C. Monday night as he claimed there were 'no problems' with rioters, but in the same tweet claimed there were 'many arrests' - then motorcaded past the remnants of chaos to visit a Catholic shrine.
'D.C. had no problems last night,' Trump boasted in his Tuesday morning tweet. 'Many arrests. Great job done by all. Overwhelming force. Domination.'
'Likewise, Minneapolis was great (thank you President Trump!),' he added, as he continues to take credit for de-escalating riots in Minneapolis, Minnesota after he urged the Democratic governor to activate the National Guard there in the wake of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of the city's police.
Despite the president's claim, D.C. riots continued in full force Monday – even after a 7:00 p.m. curfew was enacted.
Looting, arson and confrontations between rioters and law enforcement continued in the nation's capital as military helicopters hovered low above the streets, using tactics practiced in Iraq and Afghanistan to deter insurgents.
Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats ripped the president for having protesters tear-gassed and 'beaten' so he could pose in front of St. John's Episcopal on Monday night after a Rose Garden address.
Inside the White House Hope Hicks was blamed for the photo-op which saw police deployed to clear a path for the president so he could brandish a bible in front of the church, which was fire-damaged on Sunday night. In the course of the operation, clergy at the church were among those tear-gassed and Episcopal leaders in the city tore into Trump Tuesday, accusing him of a 'stunt' which turned holy ground into a 'battleground.'
Trump however tried to put that to one side by going to the shrine, and posing in front of the late pope, who is now a saint, standing hand-in-hand with Melania and saying nothing about the violence.
Video also shows the moment where Trump and the first lady are standing in front of the statue of John Paul II where the president tells his wife, who was holding a serious face, to smile for the photos.
She then gives a reprehensive, brief smile for photographers gathered for the trip.
The couple was hustled on a motorcade across a city scarred by violence he claimed had not happened, with protest signs on his route.
Trump's visit to the shrine was followed by a signing a 'proclamation on religious freedom' in a sign of how he is hoping to appeal to religious voters.
The shrine to Pope John Paul II is located in Northeast Washington, D.C. and is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. While it is a place of prayer for Catholics, it welcomes people of all faiths.
The president traveled there by motorcade with first lady Melania - passing protesters mocking him for retreating to a bunker and slamming him for using St John's as a photo-op, as well as expressing anger at the death of Floyd and systematic racism.
Melania claims to be Catholic but has never been seen publicly attending a Catholic Church and it has been a full year since the president last attended a church service.
The move comes the morning after President Trump used the front of St. John's Episcopal Church, which was boarded up, for a photo-op Monday - having peaceful protester tear-gassed and pushed back by police mounted on horses.
It is located directly across from the north side of the White House, only separated by Lafayette Park, which was tear gassed to disperse protesters moments before the president emerged from his residence to make the short trek across the street – flanked by Secret Service, cabinet members, aides and media the whole way there and back.
Priests from the church revealed Monday that they were part of a peaceful crowd that was tear gassed by cops who were clearing a path for Trump.
Gini Gerbasi, a rector at the Church, revealed on Facebook Monday that she and other clergy and laypeople were passing out water to protesters when police flooded the area, pushing protesters, deploying tear gas and unleashing rubber bullets.
'That man turned it into a BATTLE GROUND first, and a cheap political stunt second,' Gerbasi said in her post.
St. John's was boarded up as protests surrounded the White House the last few days and convened in Lafayette Park, which sits between the White House and church. Rioters set a in the basement of the church on Sunday. This was Trump's first visit to a church since June of last year
Protesters in Lafayette Park were tear gassed and hit with non lethal rubber bullets to clear the path for the president's trek across the street
While he made the short trek across the street to the church, the president passed graffiti of profanity aimed at Trump
The main message was 'f*** Trump'
Before walking out the front gates of the White House to the church, Trump declared in his Rose Garden address to the nation that he was leaving to 'pay my respects to a very, very special place.'
The visit was a clear photo-op, with him spending less than five minutes in front of the church and calling up members of his cabinet to stand by his side and face the media.
He was joined by Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Attorney General Barr, National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley was part of the entourage, but was not called up by the president to participate in the photo-op.
When he arrived in front of the church, he declared America the 'greatest country in the world' before holding up his bible for a picture.
He also asserted 'we're going to keep it [America] safe.'
A fire burned in the basement of St. John's Church Sunday night but the chapel was not affected, and it has been boarded up during the violent protests.
The church burned on Sunday as rioters descended on Lafayette Park where they lit American Flags on fire and confronted law enforcement and were tear gassed – other demonstrators also surrounded the White House.
Trump's appearance at St. John's marked the first time the president has publicly visited a church since June of 2019.
Every sitting president, with the exception of Richard Nixon, has attended the church at least once since it was built in 1816, starting with James Madison.
Trump was allegedly angry about news coverage that he fled into a White House bunker on Friday and was worried for his safety during George Floyd protests as riots broke out across Washington, D.C. – and hundreds of other cities across the country.
Trump told his aides that he wanted to be seen outside the White House gates, prompting his walk to St. Johns, according to CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlin Collins.
But his photo shoot triggered outrage from church leaders and rival politicians, and led Arlington County police to pull their officers out of the capital after they were used to charge at protesters.
Rector Gerbasi revealed in a shaken Facebook post that she and other Black Lives Matter organizers were passing out water and help to protesters alongside fellow clergy and laypeople, when police pushed out protesters with tear gas and non lethal bullets.
'That man turned it into a BATTLE GROUND first, and a cheap political stunt second,' Gerbasi wrote.
'Friends, I am ok, but I am, frankly shaken...Around 6:15 or 6:30, the police started really pushing protesters off of H Street...They started using tear gas and folks were running at us for eyewashes or water or wet paper towels,' she said.
She said she was appalled when she learned the clash with protesters was to clear the area for Trump.
'I literally COULD NOT believe it. We were driven off the patio at St. John's – a place of peace and respite and medical care throughout the day – so that man could have a photo opportunity in front of the church. People were hurt so he could pose in front of the church with a Bible,' she said.
Glenna Huber, a priest and rector with The Church of the Epiphany was also at the church aiding protesters when the police came and forced the crowd out.
'I'm horrified. Just moments before we were handing out snacks and water. There was some men singing on the steps. People were chanting and peacefully assembling. I left as the National Guard arrived. They sprayed tear gas. I was gone before the rubber bullets. And then the President spoke,' Hubber posted on Facebook.
Following the incident, Arlington County officials called their police out of Washington DC after their officers, armed in ACPD helmets and riot gear, assisted US Park officials in dispersing protesters near the church.
Arlington officials said they sent officers on Sunday following a mutual aid request from Park Police, but they did not know officers would be used to clash with protesters and have ordered their police back home.
'Appalled mutual aid agreement abused to endanger their and others safety for a photo op. We ordered @ArlingtonVaPD to immediately leave DC,' County Board Chair Libby Garvey tweeted Monday night, about two hours after Trump's photo session.
'At the direction of the County Board, County Manager and Police Chief, ACPD officers have left the District. We are evaluating the agreements that allowed our officers to be put in a compromising position, which devalued the purpose of these mutual aid obligations,' County Board member Katie Cristol said.
Rector Gini Gerbasi (left) and priest Glenna Huber (right) say they were apart of the crowd of peaceful George Floyd protesters that were teargassed and hit with rubber bullets by police clearing a path for President Donald Trump to take photos in front of St. John's Church
The Episcopal Bishop of Washington DC, Bishop Mariann Budde, slammed the president for using force 'to use the church as a prop'
Officers with the Arlington County Police Department are pictured pushing back demonstrators outside of the White House, and these law enforcement officers were called out of Washington D.C.
'Appalled mutual aid agreement abused to endanger their and others safety for a photo op. We ordered @ArlingtonVaPD to immediately leave DC,' Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey tweeted Monday night, about two hours after Trump's photo session
Inside the White House, longtime Donald Trump aide Hope Hicks has been identified as having helped hatch the plan to have the president walk across the street from the White House to pose in front of St. John's church – staged event that police and National Guard forces facilitated by using tear gas and rubber bullets to clear away peaceful protesters.
The move was conceived as a way to allow Trump to demonstrate his self-proclaimed role as the 'law and order president' and – came after the president vowed to use the military to restore order in cities across the country.
As a PR move it may have backfired, after global and national media broadcast images of sheild-bearing and mounted police using force to clear Lafayette Park, an area whose use as a forum for demonstrations and speech has long been protected.
Hicks accompanied Trump as he walked across Lafayette Park to pose at the church. Media who accompanied them reported the taste of tear gas still lingering in the air.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who had ordered a 7 pm curfew Monday, said she was 'shocked' that people who didn't seem to provoke attack were 'attacked' by federal law enforcement who cleared the way for Trump.
The walk outside the White House gates – the first as president by the heavily-guarded Trump – came after he had been confined at home for more than a day.
Trump had been upset by the disclosure that Secret Service had taken him to bunker deep beneath the White House as police clashed with protesters Friday night, the Washington Post reported, and wondered why someone would disclose it to the press.
Although he was not there long, it clashed with the image of strength Trump usually likes to put forward.
Although Trump traveled to Florida to watch a rocket launch Saturday and addressed the death of George Floyd during his arrest by Minneapolis police officers, he had not been seen since a new wave of protest and violence erupted that night.
Donald Trump is rebuked by church leaders again for SECOND religious photo stunt in two days: D.C. archbishop calls president and Melania posing with statue of Pope John Paul II 'reprehensible' after storm over THAT walk to church
![Donald Trump is rebuked by church leaders again for SECOND religious photo stunt in two days: D.C. archbishop calls president and Melania posing with statue of Pope John Paul II 'reprehensible' after storm over THAT walk to church]()
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June 03, 2020
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