New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo has slammed President Donald Trump after peaceful protesters were dispersed with tear gas, flash grenades, and rubber bullets outside the White House gates on Monday. 

At about  6:30 p.m. ET,  Federal police in D.C. used tear gas, rubber bullets and mounted officers to disperse a peaceful protest just outside the White House to make way for Trump to walk to St. John’s Episcopal Church, a house of worship used by American presidents for more than a century.

A small fire was set at the historic church on Sunday evening due to the widespread unrest in the city.

Trump who was joined by Attorney General Bill Barr for the visit, was later pictured holding a bible as he posed for a photo in front of St. John’s Church.

Soon after, Trump gave his first televised comments on the protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, the black man who was killed by a white officer in Minneapolis last week.

He threatened to send U.S. troops to disperse “mobs” across the country.

Reacting on Twitter, New York governor Andrew Cuomo condemned the president’s move to visit St. John’s Church after federal cops used tear gas to forcibly remove protesters to make way for him. 

He wrote on Twitter: ‘The president is calling out the American military against American citizens.

He used the military to push out a peaceful protest so he could have a photo op at a church.

It’s all just a reality TV show for this president.

Shameful.’