TRUMP HIDES IN WHITE HOUSE BUNKER AS PROTESTS RAGED

US President Donald Trump hid in a bunker at the White House surrounded by Secret Service agents as protests raged outside the gates of the mansion, with rocks being hurled at police barricades on Friday night (Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Manila), Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller reported for the Associated Press (AP.)

Trump spent nearly an hour in the bunker, which was designed for use in emergencies like terrorist attacks, according to a Republican close to the White House who was not authorized to publicly discuss private matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. The account was confirmed by an administration official who also on condition of anonymity.

The abrupt decision by the agents underscored the rattled mood inside the White House, where the chants from protesters in Lafayette Park could be heard all weekend and Secret Service agents and law enforcement officers struggled to contain the crowds.

Friday’s protests were triggered by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after he was pinned at the neck by a white Minneapolis police officer. The demonstrations in Washington turned violent and appeared to catch officers by surprise. They sparked one of the highest alerts on the White House complex since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.