Trump regretfully says he thinks chokeholds should 'be ended'

You might be forgiven for thinking a chokehold is just a hug for the neck, based on the fuzzy way President Trump discussed the controversial police technique on Friday. "I think the concept of chokehold sounds so innocent, so perfect," the president said on Fox News.

Trump went on to say that a chokehold depends "on the toughness and the strength" and that "you have to be careful." He added eventually that he believed "it would be, I think, a very good thing that, generally speaking, it should be ended."

Banning chokeholds is one of the most popular ideas for police reform, backed by 73 percent of the population. A number of cities and states have already moved to ban chokeholds in the wake of protests following the killing of George Floyd.

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Despite his words, Trump seemed regretful to be letting chokeholds go. "Sometimes if you're alone, and you're fighting someone who's tough, and you get somebody in a chokehold … and it's a real bad person, and you know that, and they do exist ... and what're you gonna do, you're gonna get someone in a chokehold and let go?" Trump asked. "And say, 'Oh let's start all over again, I'm not allowed to have you in a chokehold?'" Watch the interview below. Jeva Lange