The nation's oldest and largest police organization endorsed Donald Trump on Friday, saying it had “no doubt” it wanted him to remain in the White House for a second term. Meanwhile, the former president slammed his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, as “undermining law enforcement” and vowed to end “Kamala's crime wave” if elected.
Trump was in North Carolina on Friday, where he spoke at a meeting of the Fraternal Order of Police and called it an “honor” to accept the endorsement from the organization, which also endorsed Trump in 2016 and 2020.
“Public safety and border security will be key issues in the final months of this campaign,” said FOP National Director Patrick Yoess. “Our members carefully considered the candidates' positions on these issues, but there was no doubt in their minds about who they want as president for the next four years: Donald J. Trump.”
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Yoess said Trump had “made it very clear that he supports law enforcement and border security” during his first term.
“In the summer of 2020, he stood with us when most people didn't. With his help, we defeated the 'defund the police' movement and our crime rates finally started to fall,” he said. “If we want to keep our crime rates this low, we must re-elect Donald Trump.”
Yoess said FOP leadership has met with President Trump, but that no similar meeting has been proposed by Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign.
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“As the nation's oldest and largest law enforcement labor union, the FOP's endorsement of the president is one of the most sought-after endorsements by candidates running for office,” Yoess said. “The FOP is the first voice for law enforcement in the United States, and we have a responsibility to our members, America's 800,000 law enforcement officers, and the communities they serve to play a role in determining the direction our country will move forward.”
Yoess said Trump “provided strong and effective leadership for our country” during his first term.
“He is now seeking election to a second term and we intend to support him to win,” Yoesu said.
President Trump touted his support Friday afternoon at an event with members of the Fraternal Order of Police.
“It's an honor to be here. This is a huge endorsement for me … I'm honored,” Trump said. “I'm excited to be reunited with the incredible heroes and patriots of the Fraternal Order of Police. The Fraternal Order of Police is a great group and a highly respected group across the nation.”
Kamala Harris supported “defunding the police” in a 2020 radio interview, but the Biden campaign expressed opposition.
Trump added, “To all the police officers here today, I have the utmost respect for you. I admire you. And as your president, I will always support blue, as I have always supported.”
Trump slammed his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, as a “traitor.”
“I support the Democrats as much as anybody else. I was never a defender like Kamala was. She was a defender. She was a defender for 10 years. If you want to be a defender for 10 years, that's it,” Trump said.
He joked: “I think I could quit right now. There's no way I'm not going to vote for the guy.”
“I believe that these people in this room are the finest people in America,” Trump said, “and you come from all over the country, from all over the country, and we're so grateful to have you here.”
Trump said law enforcement officers “just want to see our country safe and prosperous and love our country.”
Former US president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak about national security during a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina, 21 August 2024. (Peter Zai/AFP via Getty Images)
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“We know all about you and the great job that you do, and the people of this country respect you very much for that, so I want to thank you on behalf of everybody,” Trump said.
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“Under Harris' administration, 99 percent of our law-abiding citizens are suffering, criminals are running wild, and our country has literally fallen into third world conditions. In many ways we are a third world country, but we are going to fix that soon,” Trump said. “I'm here today to say that you don't have to live like this, and if I'm president of the United States, we're not going to put up with it any more.”
Trump said violent crime has increased by 43% since the Biden-Harris administration took office, with rapes up 58% and aggravated assaults up 89%.
“Under Comrade Kamala's administration, assaults on police officers have increased by at least 32 percent, many of which go unreported, and when they are reported, they are not taken down. Shootings of police officers have increased by over 16 percent,” Trump said. “The day I take office is the day Kamala's crime wave ends. This is a crime wave in our country. We've never seen anything like this before.”
