Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, has called for the defunding of federal law enforcement agencies.
Trump’s Claim About the FBI and DOJ
Trump made the call on his new social media platform, Truth Social, on Wednesday, and claimed that the FBI and the DOJ had been “weaponized” by Democrats. Trump’s call for defunding came a day after he appeared in court in Manhattan for his arraignment in relation to a probe conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney into a possible hush money payment during his 2016 campaign to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
During the arraignment, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges that allegedly relate to falsifying New York business records, according to a recently published article in The Hill.
The charges stem from accusations that Trump attempted to conceal damaging information and illegal activity from American voters before and after the 2016 election. While Trump continues to lead in many hypothetical GOP primary matchups for the 2024 election, several contenders are still deciding whether to run or not.
Trump Calls To Defund Agencies
In a published article in NBC News, some of Trump’s allies, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have called for the defunding of agencies such as the FBI. The calls are noteworthy given that Republicans have accused Democrats of seeking to defund the police in the wake of protests that followed the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer.
Meanwhile, Trump’s arraignment has stirred reactions among Republicans, with many declared and presumed contenders coming to the former president’s defense following news that he would be indicted. Nevertheless, Trump’s call for the defunding of law enforcement agencies has received criticism from some quarters, with others questioning the veracity of his allegations of weaponization.