Report: Police DID NOT remove Lafayette Park protestors for Trump photo-op

Jenny Goldsberry |

Jun 9, 2021

The Interior Department Inspector General published the results of his investigation into the clash in Lafayette Park in June 2020. Mark Greenblatt found that federal police officers got involved to make room for contractors installing a new fence in the park.

This happened to coincide with then President Trump taking a photo in front of a nearby church. Many blamed Trump for the violent clashes.

Inspector General Greenblatt also found that police were “inconsistent with the guidance” when they violently removed protestors. But, he did not deny their authority to remove the protestors in the first place.

At the time, then presidential candidate Joe Biden railed against Trump. Biden ran with the reports that have since been proven false to tweet: “He’s using the American military against the American people. He tear-gassed peaceful protesters and fired rubber bullets. For a photo.”

He's using the American military against the American people.

He tear-gassed peaceful protesters and fired rubber bullets.

For a photo.

For our children, for the very soul of our country, we must defeat him. But I mean it when I say this: we can only do it together. https://t.co/G1yE67q9Nz
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 2, 2020

Kayleigh McEnany, who was Trump’s White House Press Secretary, took to Twitter to remind everyone, she told them. “I said this from the podium endlessly. But only now do they finally report the truth,” she tweeted.

Here we go again!

Episode 100 in "the press was wrong, Trump was right!"

I said this from the podium endlessly. But only now do they finally report the truth: "Police did not clear Lafayette Park area so Trump could hold 'Bible' photo op: Watchdog"https://t.co/ggpy6rYVtw
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) June 9, 2021

You can follow Jenny Goldsberry on Twitter @jennyjournalism.