Donald Trump demanded 'law and order' and told Democratic mayors and governors to 'get tough' yesterday as the president remained sheltered in the White House while riots continued across the US. .

After watching the SpaceX launch in Florida on Saturday, Trump returned to a White House under virtual siege which last night turned its lights out as protests raged just a few hundred yards away. .

The president was briefly taken to a White House bunker on Friday which was used by Dick Cheney on 9/11 and has told aides he worries about his safety.  .

Donald Trump demanded that state and local lawmakers 'get tough' and call in the National Guard to their cities to help mitigate escalating riots in the midst of George Floyd's death.

Trump specifically mentioned the rioting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – the state has not yet called in the National Guard – and lauded the job done by enforcement in Minneapolis.

National Guard was called into Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday by Democratic Governor Tim Walz – the riots originated in the city after George Floyd, a black man was killed by a white cop .

By Sunday evening, Trump followed up his calls for the National Guard with a tweet that simply read: 'LAW & ORDER!' .

The president is referencing state and local elected officials who have still not called in the National Guard to help mitigate violent riots that have broken out in cities across the country?

'Call in our great National Guard like they FINALLY did (thank you President Trump) last night in Minneapolis,' Trump demanded of the Pennsylvania governor

The president also lauded the National Guard for dealing with the violent rioters in Minneapolis, where they were called in on Saturday

'Congratulations to our National Guard for the great job they did immediately upon arriving in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last night,' he tweeted

'Other Democrat run Cities and States should look at the total shutdown of Radical Left Anarchists in Minneapolis last night,' the president said

'The National Guard did a great job, and should be used in other States before it is too late!' he assured. 

Trump said Democratic-run areas should look to Minneapolis as an example of how the National Guard can help with rioters

In recent days security at the White House has been reinforced by the National Guard and additional personnel from the Secret Service and the U.S

It was not immediately clear if first lady Melania Trump and the couple's 14-year-old son, Barron, joined the president in the bunker. 

Demonstrators returned to the White House on Sunday afternoon, facing off against police at Lafayette Park into the evening. 

The president said he was an 'ally to every American seeking justice and peace' but called for 'healing, not hatred' as he condemned looters.