United States President Donald Trump was taken to a secure underground bunker at the White House on Friday as protests over the death of George Floyd, an African American man, intensified, the New York Times reported on Monday.
An unidentified law enforcement official told CNN that First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron were also taken to the bunker.
The underground bunker inside the White House was designed for use in emergencies such as terrorist attacks. Trump spent over an hour inside, an unidentified Republican told AP.
“The White House does not comment on security protocols and decisions,” said White House spokesperson Judd Deere. The Secret Service said that it does not discuss the methods of its protective operations.
On May 26, Derek Chauvin, a former white Minneapolis police officer, and three other officials detained Floyd after he had allegedly used a counterfeit bill at a store. Outrage grew after a widely shared video showed Chauvin kneeling for almost nine minutes on Floyd’s neck. Floyd was seen gasping for breath, pleading with the officials saying, “I can’t breathe”, and died at the spot. While all four officers were fired last week, Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
The US president, who has been widely criticised for his response to the protests, told his advisors that he was worried about his safety. Despite the major protests, Trump has not addressed the nation, but has tweeted messages.
On Saturday, Trump praised the Secret Service. He said the protestors could have been attacked with “vicious dogs and ominous weapons” wielded by the Secret Service. The president also accused the mayor for allegedly not providing police to protect the White House.