Trump blasts George Floyd protesters for vandalising Mahatma Gandhi's statue

US President Donald Trump described protesters as a “bunch of thugs” who tore down several statues in aftermath of George Floyd’s death, saying y didn’t even spare Mahatma Gandhi. dressing an election rally in Minnesota on September 18, Trump said that protesters ripped down statues of founding fars of United States, including George Washinton and Thomas Jefferson.

“You kw, y started ripping down Abraham Lincoln. When y hit Lincoln, I said wait a minute. This is man and you can do - n y hit George Washington, Thomas Jefferson. y h everybody," Trump said.

After George Floyd’s death, statues of slave trers, imperialists, and explorers faced angst of protesters across world demonstrating against racial discrimination. As Black Lives Matter protests rd across country, strong objection over symbols and statues of Confederate leers and soldiers were also raised. 

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'Bunch of thugs'

In June, protesters vandalised Mahatma Gandhi’s statue with graffiti and spray painting, after which Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun apologised for incident. He called Indian ambassor to dress issue and statue was later refurbished by Indian embassy with help of National Park Police.

“y even h (Mahatma) Gandhi. All Gandhi wanted was one thing, peace. Right? We have peace. Rip down his statue. We don't like him. I don't think y have any idea what y're doing," said Trump.

"I think y're just a bunch of thugs, okay, you want to kw truth. I think y're a bunch of thugs," he ded.

Trump has repeatedly blamed Antifa, a far-left group, for destruction and rioting during Black Lives Matter protests which largely remained peaceful. far-left group defends use of violence to fight “fascist” forces and, according to an AOL report, call it appropriate tactics against Trump’s “unprecedented levels of surveillance, incarceration, deportations, and police brutality and murders against US Public”.

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