Donald Trump suggests 'a hard hour' will end police theft

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Donald Trump has suggested that “a tough hour” of law enforcement action would curb retail theft, an echo of his longstanding support for more aggressive and potentially violent policing.

“A hard hour – and I mean really hard – will get the word out and end immediately, you know? It will end immediately,” Trump said Sunday in Erie, Pennsylvania.

With just over a month to go before Election Day, Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric. Description of immigrants illegal in the U.S. as criminals intent on harming U.S.-born Americans, suggesting that crime has skyrocketed nonetheless national statistics show the contrary. The former president has a long history Encouraging rough treatment of people in police custody and say law enforcement should be exempt from possible punishment.

Three weeks ago, when the Fraternal Order of Police supported him At an event in Charlotte, North Carolina, Trump pledged unyielding support for police, including an expansion of use of force: “We must return to power and respect.”

At his Bedminster Golf Club in New Jersey in August, Trump linked suspicions of increased law enforcement to the deportation of immigrants. He advocated ensuring officers are “immune from prosecution” because, frankly, our police are treated horribly. They’re not allowed to do their job.”

Trump was president during the racial justice protests that erupted across the United States in the summer of 2020 Police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He posted during the protests: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Back then, he signed an executive order But promoting better policing practices has been criticized by some for failing to acknowledge what they see as systemic racial bias in policing.

While a speech in New York in 2017The then-president appeared to favor harsher treatment of people in police custody and made disparaging comments about the police practice of shielding the heads of handcuffed suspects as they are placed in patrol cars. In response, Suffolk County police said they have strict rules and procedures for dealing with prisoners and violations of them are taken “extremely seriously.”

On Sunday, the former president and current Republican presidential candidate spoke in Pennsylvania about a measure approved by California voters than his Democratic rival, the vice president Kamala Harriswas Attorney General. Trump said so the determination – which makes the theft of merchandise at or below that level a misdemeanor rather than a felony – allows shoplifting of up to $950 worth of merchandise without consequences.

Asked whether his comments on Sunday amounted to a policy proposal, Trump's campaign said he “has always been the law-and-order president and continues to reiterate the importance of enforcing existing laws.” Spokesman Steven Cheung further warned that ” “complete anarchy” if Harris were elected, citing her time as California’s top prosecutor.

Harris' campaign team did not immediately respond seeking comment on Trump's comments. Democrats have long taken note of this Dozens of police officers were injured on January 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol to try to overturn his loss to now-President Joe Biden.

___

Meg Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina, and can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP.