TOPLINE
In an excerpt from a Fox News interview released Friday, President Trump falsely claimed that Joe Biden supports “defunding the police” and signed a “charter” with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) supporting the progressive rallying cry, in what appears to be an attempt by the president to pin the controversial idea on his opponent to make him appear more radical.
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 11: President Donald J. Trump speaks to reporters as he departs to visit … [+] Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, on the South Lawn of the White House, on Saturday, July 11, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The Washington Post via Getty Images
KEY FACTS
In the interview clip, Trump tells Fox News’ Chris Wallace that Democrats “want to defund the police and Biden wants to defund the police.”
“Sir, he does not,” Wallace replies back, fact-checking the president.
“Look, he signed a charter with Bernie Sanders —”, Trump responds, alluding to a 110-page policy recommendation document released by the Biden-Bernie Unity Task Force earlier this month.
Biden has stated multiple times he does not support defunding the police and his campaign has released a statement confirming the candidate’s opposition to the loosely-defined proposal.
In an interview with “Medicare for all” activist Ady Barkan, Biden is asked by Barkan whether “we agree that we can redirect some of the funding,” to which Biden responds, “Yes. Absolutely.”
The “charter” Trump refers to does not mention defunding the police; it proposes “abolish[ing]” death penalty, prison labor, and life sentences for juveniles.”
Tangent
A Trump campaign ad released last week misleadingly tied Biden to the defund the police movement. “Joe Biden’s supporters are fighting to defund police departments,” text on the Trump campaign ad reads. “Violent crime has exploded. You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”
Key background
“Defund the police” became a rallying cry for some protesters in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. But the phrase’s meaning is loosely defined, making it an easy target for Republicans. In its most basic definition, it means reducing police department budgets and redistributing those funds to other resources. To some supporters, that can mean zeroing-out police budgets while to others, that means simply redirecting some funds. Some activists argue the U.S. spends too much on policing, and not enough on welfare. Other proponents say localities should reduce the responsibilities we expect of police, and, for instance, send mental healthcare workers to deal with drug users instead of police.
What to watch for
The full Fox News interview with Trump will air on Sunday.
Crucial quote
Trump’s comments attempting to pin Biden to the defund the police movement came after Wallace asked the president why crime has risen in cities like Chicago and New York. “I explain it very simply by saying they’re Democrat-run cities, they are liberally run. They are stupidly run.”
Further reading
The ‘Defund The Police’ Movement Is Sweeping The Country—Here’s What It Really Means (Forbes)
Trump ad falsely suggests Biden supports defunding police (Washington Post)
Biden says he doesn’t support defunding police (CNN)
Biden-Bernie Sanders Unity Task Forces release DNC platform recommendations (ABC News)
Ady Barkan Endorses Joe Biden for President (New York Times)
Chris Wallace previews ‘Fox News Sunday’ exclusive Trump interview: ‘We talked about everything’ (Fox News)
