Donald Trump is too silent on police brutality and right-wing violence

Donald Trump has failed to condemn white supremacists and is uncritical of the police even when they do wrong. Trump wants to increase police powers and when asked why black Americans are killed by police, he answered “so are white people”.^[1] He has also compared acts of police brutality to golfers who “miss a 3-foot putt” and “choke”.^[2] Trump also has consistently missed opportunities to condemn white supremacist supporters. In 2016, he did not condemn an endorsement from former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke^[3] and in 2017 he said there were “very fine people on both sides” after violent clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia.^[4] Trump also defended Kyle Rittenhouse, who is accused of murdering two Black Lives Matter protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Most recently, during an election debate, Trump told Proud Boys, a violent far-right all-male group, to “stand back and stand by”.^[5] These examples not only reveal Trump's far-right sympathies, but they undermine his attempt to present himself as the candidate of law and order - he is critical of violence only when it is politically convenient. If Trump won a second term, his political opponents would have legitimate fears for their safety and capacity to see justice. Biden is much stronger in criticising far-right and police violence, and will protect all Americans.