Trump Counters US Democratic Police Reform Draft with Law Enforcement Roundtable

Includes Police Privilege Reduction
Trump Emphasizes Police Protection Will Daily, Accusing Ideology
Biden Steps Back Opposing Police Budget Cuts

The Democratic leadership in the U.S. knelt for about nine minutes on the 8th in Congress to mourn George Floyd, a Black man who died from police strangulation, ahead of the release of the police reform bill draft.
[Image source=AP News]
Photo by AP

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump and the Democratic Party clashed over police reform. The Democrats pressured by unveiling a police reform bill, but President Trump once again emphasized law and order, engaging in an ideological dispute.

According to the New York Times and others on the 8th (local time), the Democratic leadership unveiled a draft police reform bill in Congress that day, which includes measures to limit excessive police authority and strengthen accountability and punishment following the death of Black man George Floyd.

The 134-page Democratic bill largely reflects the protesters' demands to reduce police power following Floyd's death. It limits police immunity for violent acts that have been controversial and allows victims to claim damages. It also includes provisions requiring compensation if police violate individuals' constitutional rights. The bill contains bans on chokeholds during suspect apprehension, mandatory use of body cameras, and restrictions on the use of lethal weapons.

Before unveiling the draft bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pressured President Trump, saying, "The president must not stand in the way of justice."

Separately from the police reform bill, Democratic mayors of New York and Los Angeles have even announced plans to cut police budgets.

President Trump and the Republican Party maintain a hardline stance without making specific comments on the bill prepared by the Democrats.

On the same day, President Trump emphasized law and order on Twitter, stating, "Despite crime rates reaching historically low levels this year, the radical left of the Democratic Party is demanding cuts and defunding of the police. Sorry, but I want law and order," raising his voice.

In response to the Democrats' bill draft announcement, President Trump held a meeting with law enforcement officers. At this meeting, he declared, "Budget cuts and defunding police departments are unacceptable," emphasizing, "99% of the police are great people."

However, like President Trump, the Democrats are cautious about the police budget cuts announced by their own local government leaders. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, stated that he does not support police budget cuts. Speaker Pelosi also ruled that budget cuts are not a matter for Congress to handle.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany mentioned at a press briefing that President Trump is reviewing various proposals regarding police reform. Although Trump has not yet reviewed the Democratic bill, she said he might accept measures such as limiting police immunity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.