Cuomo Condemns Trump's Use Of Military To Clear D.C. Protests

NEW YORK CITY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo condemned the U.S. President Monday for what he called using the American military to disperse peaceful protesters so that the nation's leader could have a photo opportunity.

Protesters in Washington D.C. were seen live on CNN being tear-gassed, shot with rubber bullets and pushed by mounted police and U.S. troops, despite apparently demonstrating peacefully.

The action was apparently to clear an area so that President Donald Trump could walk to St. John's Episcopal Church, near the White House, and be photographed holding a bible.

Trump stands outside St. John's Episcopal Church. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

The photo op happened minutes after Trump gave a statement in which he called himself the "president of law and order" and saying he would use the military to stop unrest if American cities and states did not get protests under control.

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Demonstrations have been seen in cities across the nation since George Floyd died in Minnesota at the hands of police a week ago.

"He called out the American military against American citizens," Cuomo said on CNN. "When was the last time you saw the American military against American citizens?

"I was shocked at what they did, I was shocked at the force they used to move the protesters who could not have been more peaceful. It was just for a photo opportunity, it was amazing.

"Calling out the American military for a photo opportunity. It was shameful, really shameful."