President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he would sign an executive order to protect U.S historical monuments by the end of the week, as political activism against racial injustice sweeps the country and threatens his re-election chances.

"We have the Monuments Act already, which which means 10 years in jail, but I think we're going to consolidate various things. We're going to come out with a very strong executive order," Trump told reporters during a White House news conference.

Many statues and monuments targeted by crowds in recent weeks pay homage to the rebel Confederacy from the nation's Civil War and are seen as tributes to those who perpetuated slavery. The calls for their removal, along with massive Black Lives Matter protests earlier this month and local governments reforming police forces, were sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd, a Black man killed in police custody.

"Now they're looking at Jesus Christ, they're looking at George Washington, they're looking at Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson. Not going to happen. Not going to happen. Not as long as I'm here," Trump said.

MORE: https://globalnews.ca/news/7096029/donald-trump-arrest-statue-vandalism/

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