Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering unprecedented protections for police officers accused of misconduct, including those involved in violent incidents, according to a new report by Rolling Stone. The Republican presidential nominee has privately floated the idea of dismantling local police units that investigate accusations of corruption, civil rights violations, and other forms of misconduct within police departments nationwide.
A source told Rolling Stone that Trump believes many police officers spend too much time worrying about internal investigations, which could “ruin” their lives simply for “doing their job.” He has expressed concern that these investigations hinder law enforcement, particularly in the context of his broader plans for law and order.
“Trump has spoken frequently about offering police ‘immunity from prosecution’ — particularly as it relates to the central role he wants cops to play in carrying out the largest mass-deportation regime in U.S. history,” the report noted. This idea reportedly gained traction after Trump accepted the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police last month.
NYU Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an expert on authoritarian regimes, warned that such proposals echo the strategies of fascist leaders who made deals with the police to secure their loyalty. “The fascists did the same thing,” Ben-Ghiat told Rolling Stone. “They made a deal with the police.” She explained that offering blanket protections to law enforcement could lead to increased racial disparities and more aggressive policing across the nation.
Ben-Ghiat referred to these proposals as “authoritarian bargains,” where a political leader courts the police by ensuring they won’t face consequences for violence. “He is arranging these things ahead of time,” she said, cautioning that this would encourage racially biased and brutal policing practices nationwide.
A 2022 report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics revealed that Black, Hispanic, and other non-white populations were more likely to experience aggressive behavior during police interactions. An analysis by the Prison Policy Initiative also found that Black individuals were about 12 times more likely to report misconduct, such as racial slurs, and noted an increase in police threatening women with violence.
Despite concerns, Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung defended the former president’s stance, saying Trump has always been a “law and order president” focused on enforcing existing laws to prevent “all-out anarchy.” Cheung did not elaborate on the specific protections Trump might propose, which Rolling Stone described as “Purge movie-esque” in their severity.
As Trump’s proposals continue to spark debate, critics warn that his approach could further polarize the country and exacerbate existing tensions around police accountability and misconduct.