WASHINGTON – President Trump was irritated in an interview Thursday when asked about the death of black Americans at the hands of the police.
“So are whites. So are whites. What a terrible question to ask, “Trump told CBS chief correspondent Catherine Herridge, when he asked the president why African-Americans” still died at the hands of law enforcement in this country. “
“So are whites,” the president continued after describing Herridge. like “terrible” George Floyd’s death at the hands of the police in Minneapolis.
Trump also claimed that police kill more white Americans each year than black Americans. “More white people, by the way. More white people, “he said.
It’s true that police shoot more white civilians every year in the United States, and 204 have lost their lives so far this year in police shootings compared to 105 African-Americans, according to Statista.
However, the fatal shooting rate among the black community is almost three times higher per capita, which means that African Americans are three times more likely to be killed by a police officer than their white neighbors.
While the president previously promised to bring the police officers who killed Floyd to justice, calling his death in May a “very, very sad event,” he has been angered by the Black Lives Matter movement and the violent protests that have Following.
Trump has hit recent demonstrations of violence against police officers and a worrying increase in violent shootings in New York City, calling crime in the Big Apple “out of control.”
The president was also questioned about his recent attempt to reopen the nation’s schools amid a record increase in coronavirus infections. He called some states’ decision to keep them closed a “mistake.”
“I would say to parents and teachers that they have to find a new person, who is in charge of that decision, because it is a terrible decision,” she said when asked if she had words of comfort for people concerned about health risks. of returning to classrooms in the middle of a pandemic.
The president reiterated concern that parents of low-income families will be forced to stay home with their children rather than return to work.
“Children and parents are also dying from that trauma,” he said. “Mothers cannot go to work because all of a sudden they have to stay home and take care of their children and their parents.”
Trump accused Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, of trying to politically hurt him after two of the state’s largest public school districts announced they would go online only in the fall, as cases continue to rise. .
“It is a balancing act, but we have to open our schools. I also say that a decision like that is political because we are starting to do very well in the polls because I am in law and order, I am in strong business, our jobs are returning to a record level as we have never seen anything like this ” said.
Trump also addressed the current debate over the Confederate flag, calling for a freedom of expression issue and repeating his comments last week after criticizing NASCAR for banning it at its events.
“Everything I say is freedom of expression. It’s very simple. My attitude is freedom of expression, “he said. “[There are] very strong views on the confederate flag. With me, it’s freedom of expression. “
“People love it and I don’t see it. I know people who like the Confederate flag and don’t think about slavery,” he said.
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