Washington, June 2 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump said during a statement at the White House that he is taking "immediate action” to mobilize “all available federal resources” to stop riots and looting across the country, threatening to deploy the military if states don’t send in the National Guard to protests.

"I will fight to protect you," Trump said during a speech in the Rose Garden on Monday.

Immediately following the speech, in an extraordinary scene, the president and his entourage walked outside of the White House, across Lafayette Square, to St. Johns Episcopal Church, which caught on fire during the protests the night before.

During the brief visit, the president stood in front of the boarded-up church and held up a Bible. He was accompanied by a variety of aides and officials, including Attorney General Bill Barr, daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump, Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

Prior to his visit, police used tear gas to disperse protesters in the park.  The park was cleared and, with extraordinary heavy security, the president walked across the street to the church.