Trump Picks Up Police Support Even As He Glorifies Those Who Assaulted Police On Jan. 6

The former president praises Jan. 6 participants who assaulted and maimed officers, and police unions have to date not offered even a word of criticism.

WASHINGTON ― As Donald Trump continues to glorify the accused and convicted criminals who beat and maimed police officers as part of his Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt, he appears to have unlikely allies: police unions, who thus far have not offered a single word of criticism.

One, in fact, has already endorsed the former president as he runs for the White House again. “President Trump’s history of support for the men and women of law enforcement is unmatched,” the International Union of Police Associations said in its Feb. 6 announcement.

An employee at the Florida-based union this week declined to explain why it was supporting someone who describes people who attacked officers ― one died hours after the assault ― as “patriots,” “political prisoners” and, most recently, “hostages.”

“It’s our policy not to comment to press,” the employee said.

IUPA’s silence on Trump’s praise for accused and convicted cop-beaters, though, is not unique. Police unions across the country, most notably the 375,000-member Fraternal Order of Police, which represents the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., and the Capitol Police, the two agencies whose officers were attacked that day, have said nothing.