Trump's Response to Police Violence Against Black Americans Falls Short of Concern

Strategic Insights -

President Trump's recent comments on the issue of police violence against black Americans, including the death of George Floyd, have sparked controversy. In an interview with CBS News's Catherine Herridge, Trump appeared to dismiss the idea that anti-black racism is a problem among America's police departments. Despite growing numbers of Americans showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement, Trump's response suggests he is not deeply concerned about the issues protesters are highlighting.

Key Takeaways:

  • 45 percent of those shot and killed by police since 2015 were white, while 23 percent were black, according to a Washington Post analysis.
  • However, black people make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, while white people make up 60 percent.
  • This means that black people are fatally shot by police at a higher rate than white people.
  • Trump's response to Herridge's question about why African Americans are still dying at the hands of law enforcement was to say, "And so are white people. So are white people -- more white people, by the way. More white people."
  • Trump has a history of dismissing the Black Lives Matter movement, which seeks to eradicate police violence against black people.
  • Almost 3 out of every 4 Americans support the protests, according to the most recent Washington Post-Schar School poll.
  • Trump has expressed support for law enforcement officers, a voting bloc that has shown high support for him in the past.
  • He has even appeared to greenlight police violence, telling officers not to protect suspects from being injured while arresting them in 2017.

Statistics:

  • 45% of those shot and killed by police since 2015 were white, while 23% were black (Washington Post analysis).
  • Black people make up 13% of the U.S. population, while white people make up 60%. (U.S. Census Bureau data).
  • African Americans are fatally shot by police at a higher rate than white people (Washington Post analysis).
  • 75% of Americans support the protests (Washington Post-Schar School poll).
  • 40% of Americans called themselves supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2016, compared to 75% in the most recent poll (Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll).

Sources:

  • Washington Post analysis
  • Washington Post-Schar School poll
  • U.S. Census Bureau data
  • Trump interview with CBS News's Catherine Herridge (May 2020)
  • Philip Bump, The Post (June 2020)
  • Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll