RLP NEWS
At a rally in Pennsylvania on Sunday, former President Donald Trump proposed that “one rough hour” of aggressive law enforcement could quickly put an end to retail theft. Trump, who has consistently blamed rising crime rates on policies under President Joe Biden, specifically pointed to migrant crime, though data does not support a significant increase tied to migration.
Referring to stores in cities like New York and San Francisco, where merchandise is often locked behind glass to prevent theft, Trump suggested that police officers should be allowed to use more force to address the issue. “See, we have to let the police do their job. And if they have to be extraordinarily rough –” he started, prompting cheers from the crowd.
Trump claimed that people are walking out of stores with large items such as air conditioners and refrigerators while police are restricted from intervening. He asserted that law enforcement officers and Border Patrol agents are willing to act but are held back by “liberal left” policies that threaten their jobs and livelihoods if they use force.
Trump then emphasized that just one “rough” hour would be enough to deter crime, arguing that “the word will get out, and it will end immediately.”
Additionally, Trump falsely accused Vice President Kamala Harris of being responsible for changes in California law that reclassified some theft offenses as misdemeanors, referring to Proposition 47, a measure passed by California voters in 2014. He also shared a personal anecdote about a tenant ending a lease due to the rise in retail theft, concluding that “things are so bad.”
Trump’s comments reflect his ongoing emphasis on law-and-order policies as he continues to campaign for the 2024 presidential election.