The nation's largest and oldest law enforcement organization on Friday endorsed Donald Trump, saying there is “no question” they want him in the White House for a second term, while the former president slammed his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, as a “defunder” of law enforcement and vowed to end “Kamala's crime spree” if elected.
Trump traveled to North Carolina on Friday to speak at a meeting of the Fraternal Order of Police and accept its endorsement, calling it an “honor.” The organization also endorsed Trump in 2016 and 2020.
“Public safety and border security will be important issues in the final months of this campaign,” said FOP National President Patrick Yoes. “Our members carefully analyzed the candidates' positions on these issues and there was no doubt, not a single doubt, about who they want as our president for the next four years: Donald J. Trump.”
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Yoes said that during Trump's first term, “he made it clear that he supported law enforcement and border security.”
“In the summer of 2020, you stood with us when very few did. With your help, we defeated the 'defund the police' movement and we are finally seeing crime rates go down,” she said. “If we want to keep these lower crime rates, we must re-elect Donald Trump.”
Yoes said FOP leadership met with Trump, but said Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign did not offer a similar meeting.
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“As the nation's oldest and largest law enforcement labor organization, the FOP's presidential endorsement is one of the most sought after by candidates running for president,” Yoes said. “The FOP is the number one voice of American law enforcement. We have a responsibility to our members, to America's 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers, and to the communities they serve, to do our part in determining the direction our country takes.”
Yoes said Trump, during his first term, “provided our nation with strong and effective leadership.”
“Now that he is seeking election for a second term, we intend to help him win it,” Yoes said.
Trump touted the endorsement Friday afternoon during an event with members of the Fraternal Order of Police.
“It's an honor to be here. It's 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 and highly respected across the country.”
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Trump added: “To all the men and women of law enforcement here today, I have the utmost respect for you. I admire you, and as your president, I will always support Democrats as I did.”
Trump criticized his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her a “defunder.”
“I'm more of a supporter of the Democratic Party than anybody else. I wasn't a supporter of defunding like Kamala. She was a supporter of defunding. She was a supporter of defunding for 10 years. When you want to defend yourself 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're not voting for that guy.”
“I consider those who are here to be the best in America,” Trump said. “They're all over the country, all over the country, everywhere. And we really appreciate them being here.”
Trump said law enforcement officers just want to “see our country safe and prosperous, and we want to love our country.”
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak on national security during a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina, August 21, 2024. (PETER ZAY/AFP via Getty Images)
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“We know all about you and the great job you do. And the people of this country respect you very much for that. So I just want to thank you on behalf of everyone,” Trump said.
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“Under the Harris regime, 99% of law-abiding citizens suffer while criminals run rampant and our country is plagued by literally third-world conditions. In many ways, we are a third-world country, but we are going to put an end to that very quickly,” Trump said. “I'm here today to declare that we do not have to live this way. And when I am president of the United States, we are not going to stand for it any longer.”
Trump said there has been a 43% increase in violent crime since the Biden-Harris administration came to power, including a 58% increase in rapes and an 89% increase in aggravated assaults.
“And under Comrade Kamala, attacks on police officers have increased by a minimum of 32% and many of them go unreported. And if they are reported, they are not stopped. And shootings of our police officers have increased by over 16%,” Trump said. “The day she takes office will be the day that Kamala's crime wave ends. It is a crime wave in our country. We have never seen anything like it.”
