Anyone is free to correct me here, but I think the park needed clearing because “intelligence information had revealed calls for violence against the police,†and that USPP were “responding to and quelling the acts of destruction and violence over the course of the weekend...â€
The president’s safety and security is always paramount and Lafayette Park being in proximity to the White House factored into the WH security chief’s decision to have the park cleared of potential threats to the president.
It was only then that President Trump decided to show the rioters that America won’t be bullied by violent protesters.
It wasn’t a case of Trump saying “Hey, clear the park for me. I want to take a walk.â€