Trump declares it 'great day' for George Floyd and equality

President Trump on Friday declared it a "great day for equality" and a "great day" for George Floyd following a jobs report that showed unemployment falling, except for African Americans, and days of unrest sparked by Floyd's death.

The president delivered lengthy and often rambling remarks in the Rose Garden that were ostensibly meant to highlight a new jobs report that showed unemployment falling after weeks of the country being shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic.

But Trump veered frequently from topic to topic, at times addressing the nationwide protests spurred by Floyd's death. Floyd died last week after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest.

"Equal justice under the law must mean every American receives equal treatment in every encounter with law enforcement regardless of race, color, gender or creed," Trump said. "They have to receive fair treatment from law enforcement."

"We all saw what happened last week. We can’t let that happen," he continued, referencing Floyd's death.