The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the nation’s largest law enforcement labor organization, has officially endorsed former President Donald Trump in his bid for re-election.

The endorsement, which marks the third consecutive presidential election cycle in which the FOP has backed Trump, comes as public safety and border security take center stage in the 2024 campaign.

Our presidential endorsement process is thorough and inclusive, involving over 377,000 members across the nation. Today, it’s a privilege to announce that the collective will of our members has led us to endorse Donald J. Trump for President. We’re committed to supporting… pic.twitter.com/RGQbEzroX9

— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) September 6, 2024

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FOP National President Patric Yoes announced the endorsement in a statement, emphasizing the critical nature of these issues. “Public safety and border security will be important issues in the last months of this campaign,” Yoes said. “Our members carefully considered the positions of the candidates on the issues, and there was no doubt—zero doubt—as to who they want as our president for the next four years: Donald J. Trump.”

#BREAKING: The National Fraternal Order of Police has come out and publicly endorsed TRUMP for President

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“Our members carefully considered the positions of the candidates on the issues and there was no doubt — zero doubt — as to who they want as… pic.twitter.com/9ufIbxnsUf

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 6, 2024

The endorsement is a significant setback for  Kamala Harris, who has been promoting her support from law enforcement as she and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz seek to position themselves as tough on crime.

In response to the FOP endorsement, the Harris campaign released a letter signed by 101 law enforcement officials endorsing the Harris-Walz ticket. The letter stated that Harris is “the only candidate we trust to keep our communities safe.”

The FOP’s backing of Trump is based largely on his firm stance in support of law enforcement, particularly during the summer of 2020 when riots and the “defund the police” movement spread across the country following the death of George Floyd.

The FOP credited Trump with standing by police officers during that tumultuous period. George Floyd died while in the custody of police officers in Minneapolis, and several officers were later convicted in connection with his death.

According to the FOP, Trump earned the support of two-thirds of the organization’s 46 state lodges and its 377,000 members, who voted in favor of the endorsement.

Before making the decision, an FOP committee met personally with Trump to discuss law enforcement issues and his plans for public safety. The organization noted that they were not granted a similar meeting with the Harris-Walz campaign.

Trump’s address to the FOP was scheduled for Friday, just hours after the organization made its endorsement public.

This event is part of his broader effort to consolidate support among law enforcement, an area where he has traditionally found strong backing. The FOP has historically endorsed Republican candidates for president, with one exception in recent history—Bill Clinton, whom they endorsed in 1996.

The FOP’s endorsement further solidifies Trump’s support base within the law enforcement community, a key demographic for his campaign as he seeks to draw a sharp contrast between his stance on public safety and that of his opponents.

The Harris-Walz campaign, meanwhile, will continue to court law enforcement officials and voters in an effort to challenge Trump’s stronghold on this issue.

As the 2024 campaign progresses, public safety and law enforcement are expected to remain pivotal issues.

Both campaigns are positioning themselves as the solution to keeping communities safe, but with the FOP throwing its weight behind Trump once again, the former president continues to hold a clear advantage in securing the support of police officers across the country.

Watch Donald Trump address the Fraternal Order of Police in North Carolina:

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