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US President Donald Trump has defended police officers caught in a video clip pushing an elderly man to the ground during nationwide demonstrations over the death of George Floyd. He claimed they may have been an Antifa provocateur. On Tuesday, Trump tweeted about the video clip from protests last week in Buffalo, New York. President said, “Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an Antifa provocateur. 75-year-old Martin Gugino has pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to blackout the equipment. I watched, he fell harder than was pushed, was aiming scanner. Could it be set up?” Point to be noted that Gugino fell to the ground on Thursday after approaching officers who pushed him in Niagara Square.

Gugino fell backward to the floor in the video clip and his head hit the ground and bleeding as the officers continue walking past him. His friends have defended him from attacks as he remained in a serious but stable condition in the hospital. Terrence Bisson volunteered with Gugino at the Western New York Peace Centre for nearly a decade. He described him as funny and gentle. He said, “He’s also an older white man in America and knows the privileges that come along with that”. Two police officers, Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski were involved in the confrontation. Both have been charged with second-degree assault and released without bail.

Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2020

The local law enforcement officials have said the officers were engaging in misconduct as they pushed the demonstrator to the ground while attempting to clear the square. The New York governor Andrew Cuomo described the incident as horrendous. He said, “I think there was a criminal liability from what I saw on the video. There’s no tolerance for delaying justice in society anymore. Justice delayed is justice denied”. Trump’s defense for the police officers involved in the incident comes as the president continued encouraging a nationwide crackdown on the weeks of demonstrations. The president has called on state governors to put down the protests by calling in the National Guard and arresting protesters.