New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has voiced disgust at a tweet by President Donald Trump promoting an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory about a 75-year-old protester in Buffalo, New York, who was pushed by police and injured during a march sparked by the death of George Floyd.
Mr Floyd, an African American, died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes after he was arrested over allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit bill on 25 May.
The policeman, 44-year-old Derek Chauvin, has been charged with second-degree murder and three others with aiding and abetting.
Mr Floyd's death has triggered anti-racism protests around the world.
Last Thursday, officers in Buffalo were enforcing an 8pm curfew when Martin Gugino was seen on video approaching them.
The footage shows him being shoved by a police officer and falling to the ground, where he lays motionless with blood trickling from his ear.
Yesterday, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter that Mr Gugino, could be an "Antifa provacateur", which the president and other Republicans have blamed for violence at the protests.
Mr Trump offered no evidence other than a report by pro-Trump channel One America News Network, which also cited no evidence.
Buffalo protester shoved by Police could be an ANTIFA provocateur. 75 year old Martin Gugino was pushed away after appearing to scan police communications in order to black out the equipment. @OANN I watched, he fell harder than was pushed. Was aiming scanner. Could be a set up?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2020
Two Buffalo police officers have been arraigned on assault charges after the video showed one of them, Aaron Torgalski, 39, shoving Mr Gugino and the other, Robert McCabe, 32, walking past his still body after he fell to the ground.
Mr Gugino sustained a serious head injury in the incident.
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Mr Cuomo said he was "disgusted" by Mr Trump's tweet and urged the president to apologise.
"He accused this man of being associated with Antifa - no proof whatsoever. No facts, just an assertion," Mr Cuomo said at his daily news briefing.
"I mean, if there was ever a reprehensible, dumb comment, and from the president of the United States," said Mr Cuomo, a Democrat.
"At this moment of anguish and anger what does he do? Pours gasoline on the fire.... He should apologise for that tweet."
