Kellyanne Conway says it was attorney general who ordered DC area be cleared for Trump's church stroll

Religious leaders have slammed the president's use of historic DC church for what they dub a 'photo op.' But top West Wing aide says that's not fair – or accurate

A top aide to Donald Trump says the president did not order federal law enforcement and military personnel to use rubber bullets and tear gas to clear a path for his Monday evening walk to a downtown Washington church damaged during weekend rioting.

"Clearly, the president doesn't know how law enforcement is handling his movements, his travel, one way or the other," White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters on Tuesday.

She pinned responsibility at first on the shoulders of Attorney General William Barr.

"The attorney general was talking [Monday afternoon] about expanding the perimeter based on the violence and anarchy from the night before," Ms Conway said.

She was referring to the security perimeter US Secret Service, US Park Police and DC National Guard officials intended to establish during expected Monday night protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man, under the knee -- for over eight minutes -- of a white police officer in Minneapolis.

A few minutes later, she also mentioned US Secret Service leaders as being involved in the scene that played out before Mr Trump walked to St. John's Episcopal Church, which had been partially set on fire on Sunday night.

"I'm happy to see that no one was harmed, from what I read," she said, appearing to suggest the hardline, militarized approach to combating the protests her boss has advocated is the only way to quell the demonstrations, which have turned violent with looting in some major cities.

"The people who are in charge of the president's movements ... make real time decisions as to how best accomplish that (protecting the president and vice president), she added.

As a list of Catholic and other religious leaders criticise the president's walk to St. John's and then a Tuesday morning visit to lay a wreath at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, Ms Conway defended the president.

Some religious leaders say the bright yellow DC church where every modern American president, including the 45th, have attended at least one service should not have been used as a "photo op" without the permission of church leaders.

Ms Conway called that a "mischaracterisation" of Mr Trump's intentions.

"It doesn't make it right and it doesn't make it true. ... You have to draw a line somewhere," she said, contending Mr Trump was deeply troubled by images of the church ablaze and describing that as the moment he decided to push his get-tough approach on governors and enact it in the District.

"Different faith leaders, anybody frankly," Ms Conway said, "calling into question somebody else's faith is a very fraught proposition."