Trump orders National Guard to withdraw from Washington DC ‘now that everything is under perfect control’

More than 10,000 protesters flooded the capital's streets on Saturday to call for racial justice after the killing of George Floyd in police custody

President Donald Trump has given the order for the National Guard to begin to withdraw from Washington DC, "now that everything is under perfect control”.

The president claimed that far fewer protesters had shown up in the nation’s capital on Saturday than anticipated.

Mr Trump warned that the troops can “quickly return, if needed”.

Saturday saw more than 10,000 people take to DC's streets in peaceful marches on the 12th day of protests over police brutality and the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The Washington Post reported that the city no longer felt as if it was being occupied by the country's own military and the police presence was limited.

Early in the day, the crowds packed into six blocks along 16th Street NW, chanting "No justice! No peace!"

The stretch had been painted with the words 'Black Lives Matter' under the direction of Mayor Muriel Bowser. Protesters added "Defund the police" on a neighbouring block — a message also aimed at the mayor.

A cage-like two miles of metal fencing now surrounds the White House, and it was revealed that during a heated Oval Office meeting on Monday, the president had demanded 10,000 active duty troops be deployed.

Pentagon officials and attorney general William Barr advised against such a deployment.