GOP lawmakers 'can't be pro-law enforcement and pro-insurrection,' Biden says
President Biden directly addressed his "MAGA Republican friends in Congress" on Tuesday, saying you can't claim to "support law enforcement if you don't condemn what happened on the 6th. For God's sake, whose side are you on?"
Biden was referring to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when dozens of officers were injured as a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol. "You can't be pro-law enforcement and pro-insurrection," he continued. "You can't be a party of law and order and call the people who attacked the police on Jan. 6 patriots. You can't do it."
The president made his remarks in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, during a speech about his Safer America Plan. He also mentioned the FBI agents who have been threatened since executing a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump's Florida home, earlier this month as part of an investigation into Trump's handling of classified information. "It's sickening to see the new attacks on the FBI," Biden said, calling out the threats made against the lives of "law enforcement agents and their families for simply carrying out the law and doing their job."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As part of his Safer America Plan, Biden wants to see 100,000 police officers hired across the United States. "The answer is not to defund the police," he said. "It's fund the police." At the same time, "there should be more training, more help, and more accountability," Biden continued. "Increased trust makes policing more effective and it strengthens public safety in the communities."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Cautious optimism surrounds plans for the world's first nuclear fusion power plant
Talking Point Some in the industry feel that the plant will face many challenges
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
2024: the year of Black country artists
In the Spotlight Beyoncé debuted 'Cowboy Carter' at the top of the country charts, shining a spotlight on artists like Shaboozey
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Explore new worlds this winter at these 6 enlightening museum exhibitions
The Week Recommends Discover the estrados of Spain and the connection between art and chess in various African countries
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Biden commutes most federal death sentences
Speed Read The president downgraded the punishment of 37 of 40 prisoners on death row to life in prison without parole
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House report on Gaetz finds regular paid sex, drugs
Speed Read The House Ethics Committee's report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz presented evidence of statutory rape, illicit drug use and other violations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published