The unrest in Wisconsin follows growing demands nationwide over the past three months for racial equality, after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, was killed by police in Minnesota.

 Trump visits Wisconsin because of the recent unrest ... and praises police

US President Donald Trump defied the demands of local officials, today, Tuesday, and visited Wisconsin, which witnessed the recent police shooting of a black man, sparking protests and riots that killed two people.

Trump has spoken to law enforcement and praised local police in Kenosha, a small city at the heart of the unrest.

Trump met shopkeepers affected by looting and toured the charred remains of stores that were destroyed in last week's riots.

He said that the city "was destroyed by the anti-police and anti-American riots."

Trump acknowledged the existence of peaceful protests, but insisted that the focus should be on violence.

"I think that peaceful protest is wonderful ... but in general, these are not peaceful protests," he said, referring to the damage to property.

He added that the local population wanted "law and order."

Last weekend, a policeman shot Jacob Blake, a black man, seven times in the back in what law enforcement authorities described as a kind of altercation.

On the sidelines of the protests against the shooting of Blake, a 17-year-old armed guard killed two people and said he was protecting stores from thieves.

Trump was not scheduled to meet the Blake family during his visit, and he said he would be willing to help the family, indicating that the case is still under investigation.

And local Democratic officials in Wisconsin have expressed concern that Trump's visit could spark tensions, after several days of calm in the small city.

"I fear your presence will only delay our work to bridge the divide and move forward together," Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers wrote to Trump, yet the Republican White House ignored his concerns.

During his visit to Kenosha, Trump pledged $ 1 million to the local police department and $ 4 million to help stores rebuild.