Donald Trump dismisses reports he was rushed to a bunker for safety

Donald Trump told a radio host he wasn't ordered to go down to the bunker.
Donald Trump told a radio host he wasn't ordered to go down to the bunker. Photo credit: Getty

Donald Trump has quelled rumours he was rushed to his bunker for safety during the US riots, saying he visited it for an "inspection".

Multiple news outlets reported the US President had taken shelter in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center on Friday.

The New York Times said they had a source with "inside knowledge" which claimed Trump was sent to the bunker by Secret Service Agents.

CNBC wrote he had spent nearly an hour in the shelter which was designed for emergency use, like terror attacks.

Other sources claimed first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron were taken with him.

But on Thursday Trump told a Fox News radio host the Secret Service hadn't ordered him to "go downstairs".

"It was a false report, I went down during the day and I was there for a tiny, short period of time and it was much more for an inspection," he told host Brian Kilmeade.

Trump said he went down during the day when the protests weren't at their worst.

"There was no problem during the day...I've gone down two or three times all for inspection and you go there because someday you may need it," he said.

"But I went down, I looked at it during the day and it was not a problem but I read about it like it was a big thing. 

"It was never a problem, we never had a problem. Nobody ever came close to giving us a problem."

Demonstrations have raged across the United States for over a week after George Floyd was allegedly killed by police.

Angry protesters have directed their anger at Trump outside the gates of the White House and hundreds of National Guard soldiers were ordered to defend it from protesters.

"After we had the one evening which was a little rough," Trump told Kilmeade, "we brought in the troops".

At least 14 people have died as a result of the protests, including shop and restaurant owners, a federal officer, and police captain.