President Donald Trump warned against labeling „tens of millions of decent Americans as racist or bigots“ on Thursday during an event promoted as discussing „justice disparities“ in Dallas, Texas.
While the President has said he sympathizes with peaceful protesters marching after George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, Trump has a history of stoking racial animus, including calling some protesters „thugs“ and threatening to deploy the military to „dominate“ looters.
On Thursday, Trump repeatedly lauded police forces and described those who used excessive force as „bad apples.“ And instead of speaking about police violence against black people, Trump decried officers who are targeted in the line of duty. He also suggested his attempts at racial reconciliation would go „quickly and easily.“
„We have so many different elements of strength in this country, we have such potential in this country, we have the greatest potential,“ he said. „But we get off-subject and we start thinking about things that don’t matter or don’t matter much. The important things, we don’t even discuss but we are here to discuss very important things today.“
The President tried to get back to politics as usual amid the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing protests against police brutality, hosting a roundtable to discuss health, economic and justice disparities. He is expected to attend a multimillion dollar reelection fundraiser.
Three key black law enforcement officials in the region — the region’s police chief, sheriff and district attorney — were not invited to the roundtable, CNN has confirmed. However, the Glenn Heights Police Chief Vernell E. Dooley, who is African American, was invited. Glenn Heights is south of Dallas and has a population of about 16,000 people.
The Dallas Morning News first reported that the three officials had been left out.
The President also confirmed during his remarks that the White House is finalizing an executive order on policing standards in the wake of national outcry over Floyd’s death at the hands of police officers in Minnesota. Trump said the order „will encourage police departments nationwide to meet the most current, professional standards for the use of force, including tactics for de-escalation.
