The top U.S. military officer apologizes for joining Trump's walk to church: ‘I Should Not Have Been There’

by Staff Writer 12-06-2020 | 12:37 AM

The top military official in the U.S. and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - General Mark Milley has apologized for taking part in President Trump’s walk across Lafayette Square for a photo op after the authorities used tear gas and rubber bullets to clear the area of peaceful protesters.

U.S. President Trump walked to the church and held up a Bible after a peaceful protest at the death of African American George Floyd was forcibly dispersed.

“I should not have been there. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics,”

said General Mark Milley.

Adding further, the General said,

"As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from. And I sincerely hope that we all can learn from it."

The use of troops to tackle the protests has provoked fierce U.S. debate.

U.S. President has regularly referred to "law and order", calling in the National Guard to the U.S. capital, vowing to deploy the military to other cities and condemning violent protests.

Some of the most peaceful initial protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month did turn violent with looting in several cities.

But since four police officers were charged in connection with Floyd's death, the protests have been more peaceful, spawning an international movement against police brutality and racial inequality.