'Word of God as a political prop': GOP senators criticize Trump after George Floyd protesters forced out of park - USA TODAY

GOP senators were split Tuesday with some criticizing President Trump after protesters were removed from the area around the White House Monday.

Police used tear gas to clear protesters from a park before President Trump walked over to St.

WASHINGTON – Republican senators were split on President Donald Trump's decision Monday to push back protesters from an area surrounding the White House so he could visit a historic church across the street to take a photo with a Bible.

As he spoke from the White House, police outside forcibly removed protesters gathered in Lafayette Square with riot shields, flash bangs and chemical agents.

A few minutes later, Trump walked through the park and posed for photos with a Bible outside St.

More: DC mayor says using tear gas on protesters outside White House before curfew is 'shameful'.

"If your question is: Should you use tear gas to clear a path so the president can go have a photo op.

Some Republicans pointed to violence that has broken out in recent days, including in front of the White House, and accused protesters of provoking authorities

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on President Donald Trump to be a "healer in chief" and not a "fanner of the flame" as the nation reels from mass protests over the treatment of black people in the United States

House Democrats are demanding information about the chain of events that led to peaceful protesters being forcibly removed from the park. 

Bennie Thompson, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, asked the director of the Secret Service to appear before the committee to brief them on the incident, writing that he was "stunned, disturbed, and furious at the sight of federal authorities tear-gassing peaceful protesters."

Asked Tuesday whether the president's conduct merited censure, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said he believed it did warrant such a move but noted the full Democratic caucus had not discussed taking that step

president Donald Trump said he would deploy the military if state officials didn't quell the violence amidst protests after George Floyd's death