VERIFYING Trump’s Claim About Kamala Harris and Police Reform

Former President Trump made a bold claim during a debate, stating that Vice President Kamala Harris has plans to defund the police. This claim has been echoed by others on social media since Harris became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. But what is the truth behind this statement? Let’s VERIFY Harris’ stance on police reform.

THE QUESTION

Does Vice President Kamala Harris have a plan to defund the police?

THE ANSWER

Former President Donald Trump’s claim that Vice President Kamala Harris has a plan to defund the police is misleading.

WHAT WE FOUND

Vice President Kamala Harris does not have a plan to defund the police, contrary to Trump’s assertion during a presidential debate. While Harris has voiced support for “redirecting resources” from police to other areas of government following the death of George Floyd in 2020, she has since supported increasing funding to police departments and enhancing community policing efforts.

According to the Brookings Institution, “defund the police” does not mean abolishing the police altogether but rather reallocating funding from police departments to other government agencies funded by the local municipality.

In her role as a senator, Harris has advocated for police reform initiatives that bolster funding to police departments and ensure accountability. She co-sponsored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which aims to hold officers accountable and improve racial profiling training.

The Biden-Harris administration has also supported funding and resources for community policing and violence prevention, as evidenced by the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed in 2021.

It is crucial to note that Vice President Harris and President Biden do not endorse defunding the police, and their actions reflect a commitment to enhancing community safety and law enforcement accountability.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.