Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Maryland

Image source, Getty Images

I’m in rural Maryland now, after arriving with Donald Trump a short while ago. We’re heading to Camp David, where he’ll spend the night and hold meetings tomorrow.

Before we left New Jersey, Trump spoke to us briefly under the wing of Air Force One, mainly about the unrest in California.

He said he doesn’t believe there’s an “insurrection” happening, but added that the government will “have troops everywhere”, including in cities beyond Los Angeles if protests grow.

“We’re not going to let this happen to our country,” he said. “We’re not going to let this country be torn apart.”

Trump was also asked what would trigger sending active-duty US Marines.

“The bar is what I think it is,” he said. “If we see danger to our country and our citizens, we will be very strong in terms of law and order.”

Just before we boarded the aircraft, I asked Trump if he thinks protest movements will appear in other cities like Chicago or New York.

“We’re going to be watching it very closely,” he said, before accusing protesters of spitting at police officers.

“When that happens, I have a little statement…they spit, we hit,” he said, looking at me. “That happens, they get hit very hard.”