Former President Donald Trump recently accepted an endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) in North Carolina, warning that law enforcement officers are now “in more danger” due to policies backed by Vice President Kamala Harris. The FOP announced earlier that day it was choosing Trump as its favored candidate for the 2024 contest, support he said he was “deeply honored” to accept alongside union president Patrick Yoes in Charlotte.
Trump expressed his gratitude for law enforcement officers and their dedication to keeping communities safe, but also highlighted the challenges they currently face. As of July 31, the FOP reported that 223 officers had been shot in the line of duty, a slight dip of 2% from the same point in 2023. A record-high 378 men and women in blue were shot in 2023, with 46 killed.
The former president also claimed to have been endorsed by “New York’s finest,” although no public announcement to that effect had been made by any NYPD union. Trump contrasted his plans to “launch a war on crime in America” with what he called “Kamala’s crime wave.” He criticized the Biden administration and Kamala Harris for their perceived leniency on crime, alleging that they have created an environment where law-abiding citizens are forced to live with rampant retail theft and other criminal activities.
Trump also highlighted the increasing number of violent crimes during President Biden and Harris’ tenure, citing data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics which showed a 43% increase in violent crime under the current administration compared to a 17% decrease during Trump’s term. He vowed to restore public safety to the streets and bring back law and order if re-elected as president.
