COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump On Saturday, the video of the vicious beating of Tyre Nichols Five Memphis Police Officers are “horrible” That’s it! “never should have happened.”
“I thought it was terrible. He was in such trouble. He was just being pummeled. Now that should never have happened,” Trump spoke with The Associated Press Saturday after police released video footage showing the assault on the Black 29-year old man following a traffic stop. Nichols died three days later.
Trump made the comments, which were noteworthy because Trump is back in the White House race and has a long history of commenting. encouraging rough treatment Officers in Police Detention He presided over the 2020 racial justice demonstrations. police killing of George Floyd Minneapolis He was in Minneapolis at the time. signed an executive order While encouraging improved police practice, some criticize it for not acknowledging what they see as systemic racial biases in policing.
Trump ultimately focused his 2020 campaign around this issue. “law and order” message That emphasised the need to support law enforcement.
This is the newly published violent video in Memphis shows Cops holding down and beating Nichols For three minutes, they used their batons and boots to stomp on him for about 30 seconds. He is heard yelling profanities at police officers in the footage. Nichols He screams at his mother Trump: Nichols His mother called him to ask for help. “a very sad moment.”
“That was really the point that got me the most, to be honest with you,” He said.
Trump addressed the video not in the New Hampshire or South Carolina campaigns speeches. These were the first stops on his 2024 presidential campaign.
Memphis’ five ex-members Police Black department officers are required to be present. been fired and charged with murder and other crimes. Legal team Nichols’ family has likened it to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.
Trump spoke of Memphis Police Were taking a “strong step” By disbanding a police unit that was involved in the attack. It was established to prosecute violent offenders living in areas plagued by high criminality.
“Look, the tape was perhaps not totally conclusive but, to me, it was pretty conclusive and it was vicious and violent and hard to believe — over a traffic violation,” He said.
