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| Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images |
In a Rose Garden event in the White House, Trump said that his executive order would set standards “as high and as strong as there is on Earth,” over the issue of forcing, adding he would put federal funds to local police departments if they meet the requirements.
“Today is about pursuing common sense and fighting, fighting for a cause like we seldom get the chance to fight for,” Trump said. “We have to fight common ground.”
Under the order, police departments have to ban chokeholds — “except if an officer’s life is at risk,” — to receive federal funds.
The order also sets up a national database to track police offers with several misconduct violations, as well as encourage police departments to work with mental healthcare workers when dealing with addiction, mental illness, and homelessness.
Trump reiterated his stance as a “law and order” president. Trump denounced the “radical and dangerous efforts to dissolve our police.” Adding, “without police there is chaos.” He claimed that police misconduct was a “small percentage” of total officers.
“They’re very tiny. I use the word tiny. It’s a very small percentage. But you have them. But nobody wants to get rid of them more than the really good and great police officers.”
Democratic Response
Democrats criticized the order, saying that it has not gone far enough. “While the president has finally acknowledged the need for policing reform, one modest executive order will not make up for his years of inflammatory rhetoric and policies designed to roll back the progress made in previous years,” Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the president failed to take “basic steps” in banning legal protections that prevent police accountability, as well as banning racial profiling.
"During this moment of national anguish, we must insist on bold change, not meekly surrender to the bare minimum," she said.
Capitol Hill Action
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill lawmakers are working to pass legislation that changes police workings within the country.
Republicans said they have no rush to pass a police reform bill before the recess for the Fourth of July, however Tim Scott — the only Black Republican in the Senate — said that would be a “bad decision” after working on his own bill to police reform.
Trump said on Tuesday his executive order would go “hand in hand” with the Republican plan.
Earlier this month, Democrats revealed a sweeping overhaul bill on reforming police policies by holding police accountable for any misconduct, as well as being able to track “problematic” officers through a national misconduct registry.