Trump accepts support from largest police union and calls Harris a “supporter”: “Kamala's crime wave”

The nation's oldest and largest police organization endorsed Donald Trump on Friday, saying there is “no doubt whatsoever” that they want him in the White House for a second term. The former president, on the other hand, criticized his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, as an “oppressor” of law enforcement and promised to end “Kamala's crime wave” if elected.

Trump traveled to North Carolina on Friday to speak at a meeting of the Fraternal Order of Police and accept their endorsement, calling it an “honor.” The organization previously endorsed Trump in 2016 and 2020.

“Public safety and border security will be important issues in the final months of this campaign,” said Patrick Yoes, FOP national president. “Our members carefully considered the candidates' positions on these issues and there was no doubt – no doubt at all – about who they want as our president for the next four years: Donald J. Trump.”

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Yoes said Trump made it clear during his first term that he supports law enforcement and border security.

“In the summer of 2020, he stood with us when few would. With his help, we defeated the 'defund the police' movement and are finally seeing crime rates drop,” he said. “If we want to maintain these lower crime rates, we need to re-elect Donald Trump.”

Yoes said FOP leadership has met with Trump, but added that Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has not offered a similar meeting.

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“As the oldest and largest law enforcement union in the country, the FOP's presidential endorsement is one of the most coveted endorsements for presidential candidates,” Yoes said. “The FOP is the most important voice of American law enforcement. We have a responsibility to our members, the 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers in the United States, and the communities they serve, to do our part to shape the direction our country will move.”

Yoes said Trump “provided strong, effective leadership to our nation” during his first term.

“Now that he is seeking a second term, we intend to help him win it,” Yoes said.

Trump touted his support at an event with members of the Fraternal Order of Police on Friday afternoon.

“It's an honor to be here. This is a great endorsement for me… It's an honor,” Trump said. “I'm thrilled to be back with the incredible heroes and patriots of the Fraternal Order of Police, an incredible group that is held in high esteem across the country.”

Kamala Harris supported the call to “defund the police” in a 2020 radio interview before Biden's campaign team said otherwise

Trump added: “To all the law enforcement officers here, I respect you very much. I admire you, and as your president, I will always support the Democrats, as I have done.”

Trump called his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, a “supporter.”

“I support the Democrats more than anyone else. I didn't withhold funds like Kamala did. She withheld funds. She withheld funds for 10 years. If you want to defend the cause for 10 years, that's the end of it,” Trump said.

He joked: “I think I could leave right now, and you say there's no way we can't vote for this guy.”

“I consider you in this room to be America's finest,” Trump said. “You're all over the country, from all over the country, everywhere. And we really appreciate you being here.”

Trump said police officers simply wanted to “see our country, enjoy safety and prosperity, and we want to love our country.”

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak about national security during a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina, August 21, 2024. (PETER ZAY/AFP via Getty Images)

In a 2019 interview, Kamala Harris called for police officers to be removed from schools to combat racial “inequalities”

“We know all about you and the great work you do. And the people of this country have great respect for you. So on behalf of everyone, I want to thank you,” Trump said.

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“Under the Harris regime, 99 percent of law-abiding citizens are suffering while criminals run free and our country is literally drifting into third world conditions. In many ways we are a third world country, but we are going to change that very quickly,” Trump said. “I am here today to declare that we do not have to live that way. And when I am president of the United States, we will no longer tolerate it.”

Trump said there has been a 43% increase in violent crime since the Biden-Harris administration took office, including a 58% increase in rape and an 89% increase in aggravated assault.

“And under Comrade Kamala, attacks on police officers have increased by at least 32% and many of them go unreported. And when they are reported, they are not stopped. And shootings of our police officers have increased by over 16%,” Trump said. “The day I take office is the day Kamala's crime wave ends. It is a crime wave in our country. We have never seen anything like it.”