Ever since his rise in politics, Donald Trump has tried to position himself as a friend of law enforcement. At a time when criticism of policing and pushes for police reform were ascendant on the left, Trump spoke out in opposition to that,
In 2016, the National Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Trump’s campaign, with its president, Chuck Canterbury, telling NPR that the endorsement was enthusiastic.
“He wants to work on the systemic causes of high crime, and Mrs. Clinton wants to work on police reform. And reform in a profession that doesn’t need to be reformed is not the answer to fight crime,” Canterbury said.
In 2020, the year of the killing of George Floyd and massive protests of policing nationwide, the FOP endorsed Trump again.
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“President Trump has shown time after time that he supports our law enforcement officers and understands the issues our members face every day. The FOP is proud to endorse a candidate who calls for law and order across our nation. He has the full and enthusiastic support of the FOP,” Patrick Yoese, by then the president of the organization, said at the time.
But then came January 6, when Capitol police officers were attacked by Trump’s supporters on live television. Hundreds of them were convicted of various crimes in connection with the riot that day.
JUST IN: The Fraternal Order of Police, the largest police union in the U.S. that endorsed Trump in the last election, has issued a statement condemning his pardon of the violent January 6 rioters.
“Crimes against law enforcement are not just attacks on individuals or public… pic.twitter.com/Ox9bSUm5Ka
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 22, 2025
This week, Donald Trump either pardoned or commuted the sentences of everyone convicted of January 6-related crimes. And the FOP, which endorsed Trump again in 2024, issued a statement rebuking the decision.
The FOP, along with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), issued a statement criticizing both the Trump Administration for the January 6 pardons and the outcoming Biden Administration for commuting sentences of “individuals convicted of killing or assaulting law enforcement officers.” The latter was presumably a reference to the commutation by the Biden Administration of Leonard Peltier, the Native American activist who was convicted in the deaths of two FBI agents in 1975.
“Crimes against law enforcement are not just attacks on individuals or public safety — they are attacks on society and undermine the rule of law,” the statement from the FOP and IACP said. “Allowing those convicted of these crimes to be released early diminishes accountability and devalues the sacrifices made by courageous law enforcement officers and their families. When perpetrators of crimes, especially serious crimes, are not held fully accountable, it sends a dangerous message that the consequences for attacking law enforcement are not severe, potentially emboldening others to commit similar acts of violence.”
The statement also noted the organizations’ “long-standing and positive relationships” with both Trump and Biden.
Featured image via screengrab
