Washington DC: US President Donald Trump said that he has signed a very strong executive order on Friday aimed at protecting the country’s monuments and statues from vandalism. Trump in his tweet said that “I just had the privilege of signing a very strong executive order protecting American monuments, memorials and statues — and combating recent criminal violence. Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our great country”. Trump’s executive order has yet to be released.

     He was preparing an order after protestors tried to vandalize a statue of former President Andrew Jackson near the White House amid nationwide demonstrations against racism and police brutality, earlier this week. The vandalization, which are taking place following the death of George Floyd, an African-American man in police custody last month. The Veterans’ Memorial Preservation Act passed in 2003 already empowers authorities to impose fines and a jail term of up to 10 years for “attempts to injure or destroy, any structure, plaque, statue or other monument on public property commemorating the service of any person or persons in the armed forces of the US.”     Trump in a press conference, said that the executive order would “consolidate various things.” The National Guard has been activated in Washington DC to protect federal monuments following Monday’s attempt by the protestors to topple Andrew Jackson’s bust.