This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
US President Donald Trump has sparked controversy with his comments on the latest police shooting in the United States. Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Trump said that police 'have not been treated fairly' in the country.
His comments came after the charging of Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe with the murder of 27-year-old African American Rayshard Brooks. Brooks was shot in the back and kicked by Rolfe as he lay on the ground bleeding.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and anti-police brutality protests across the country, coming just weeks after the death of George Floyd while being pinned down by Minneapolis police officers.
Trump's comments have been met with criticism from Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said that the president's executive order to improve policing 'falls sadly and seriously short' of what is required to combat police brutality.
Trump also defended his order, saying that Democrats 'do nothing' and want to 'defund and abolish' police departments.
On the death of George Floyd, Trump said he had been unable to watch the nearly nine-minute clip of Floyd's death, saying 'who could watch that?'
Trump's comments have sparked a heated debate on police reform and racial justice in the United States.
