The cities' mayors - Bill de Blasio of New York, Ted Wheeler of Portland and Jenny Durkan of Seattle - rejected the threat as "thoroughly political and unconstitutional."

"The President is playing cheap political games with Congressionally directed funds," they wrote in a joint statement. "Our cities are bringing communities together; our cities are pushing forward after fighting back a pandemic and facing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, all despite recklessness and partisanship from the White House."

Barr accused the mayors of endangering the lives of innocent citizens by treating the vandals and criminals mixed in with the 'peaceful protesters' far too gently.