Federal officers tear-gas peaceful protesters at Lafayette Square so Trump can pose with Bible

On June 1, 2020, federal law enforcement — including Secret Service, Park Police, and D.C. Metropolitan Police — used tear gas, pepper balls, and rubber projectiles to forcibly clear peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square in Washington DC. Moments later, President Trump walked through the cleared area to St. John's Episcopal Church, where he posed holding a Bible for a photo. Trump had given a speech in the Rose Garden calling himself "your president of law and order" and invoking the Insurrection Act. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, whose church was used without permission, said Trump had used a "sacred symbol" for "partisan political purposes." A reverend described being gassed "to hold a Bible and look Christian." D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the "authoritarian" use of force against peaceful demonstrators.