Dec 15, 2017 - Politics & Policy
Trump tells police he has their back "100 percent"
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Trump received a warm welcome at the FBI National Academy graduation ceremony Friday, less than an hour after continuing to make claims about how angry the American public is with the bureau and his Justice Department, calling it "a shame." But Trump took on a more optimistic tune during his speech to the academy:
"Know, with me as your president, America's police will have a true friend and loyal champion in the White House – more loyal than anyone else can be...The president of the United States has your back 100 percent."
Key quotes from Trump's speech:
- He went after chain migration and the visa lottery system: "You think the country is giving us their best people? No... They give us their worst people, they put them in a bin ... really the worst of the worst." (Go deeper: How the diversity visa process works. Take note: Recipients of diversity visas are vetted through the same process as any other visa recipients).
- And crime in Chicago: "What the hell is going on in Chicago? What the hell is happening there? ... Police departments are overstretched, they're underfunded and they're totally underappreciated — except by me." (Go deeper: Trump compares Chicago to Afghanistan; Chicago police tout 14% homicide drop)
- His message "to those who threaten violence against our police": "We will protect those who protect us. And we believe criminals who kill police officers should get the death penalty." (Go deeper: Trump's history of calling for the death penalty)
