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'What freaking bo****ks': Joe Biden’s 'fund the police' comment splits party and nation

'I felt for a minute that I was listening to 45. Fund the police? No Joe. Fund our damn schools,' Erika Andiola, an immigration activist, tweeted

BY DIVYA KISHORE

UPDATED MAR 2, 2022

Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the US Capitol House Chamber on March 1, 2022, in Washington, DC (Photo by Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden’s remark made during his State of the Union address has divided the nation. On Tuesday, March 1, the Democratic leader stressed the importance of funding the police to “restore trust and safety”, saying, “The answer is not to defund the police. It's to fund the police. Fund them. Fund them,” which was quite opposite to what many leftists have been demanding for months."

Biden also mentioned his meeting with the families of two slain New York Police Department officers – Wilbert Mora and Jason Rivera – in his address. He said he told their relatives that “we are forever in debt to their sacrifices and will carry on their mission to restore the trust and safety every community deserves.” The 79-year-old went on to say that he knows “what works” for public safety.

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“Investigating, crime prevention, and community policing, cops who walk the beat, who know the neighborhood and can restore trust and safety. Let's not abandon our streets or choose between safety and equal justice. Let's come together and protect our communities, restore trust, and hold law enforcement accountable,” he added.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol House Chamber on March 1, 2022 in Washington, DC. In his first State of the Union address, Biden spoke on his administration’s efforts to lead a global response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, work to curb inflation, and bring the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images)

In his speech, Biden talked about the American Rescue Plan that gave $350 billion for cities and counties to recruit more cops, calling it “an investment in ‘proven strategies’ like breaking the cycle of violence and trauma and ‘giving young people hope,’” as reported by The Week. The commander-in-chief also added that he will work towards banning ghost guns and gun trafficking before asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit assault weapons and pass universal background checks. He asked, “Why should anyone on a terrorist list be able to purchase a weapon? Why? Why?”

While some of Biden’s allies as well as the Republican party members applauded him, there were many who went against him. Slamming the POTUS, Representative Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who is also Black Lives Matter activist, tweeted: “With all due respect, Mr. President. You didn’t mention saving Black lives once in this speech. All our country has done is given more funding to police. The result? 2021 set a record for fatal police shootings. Defund the police. Invest in our communities.”

U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) attends the State of the Union address by President Joe Biden to a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol House Chamber on March 1, 2022 in Washington, DC. In his first State of the Union address, Biden spoke on his administration’s efforts to lead a global response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, work to curb inflation, and bring the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images)

With all due respect, Mr. President. You didn’t mention saving Black lives once in this speech.

All our country has done is given more funding to police. The result? 2021 set a record for fatal police shootings.

Defund the police. Invest in our communities. https://t.co/t0n0EpHMwd
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) March 2, 2022

"We don't need to defund the police, we need to fund them... with resources and training"

What freaking bollocks. But it's what whites want to hear. #SOTU
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) March 2, 2022

The answer definitely ain’t to fund the police, Biden.
— Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) March 2, 2022

“‘We don't need to defund the police, we need to fund them... with resources and training’ What freaking bollocks. But it's what whites want to hear. #SOTU,” MSNBC commentator Elie Mystal commented. Rutgers Professor and MSNBC commentator Brittney Cooper wrote: “The answer definitely ain’t to fund the police, Biden.”

I felt for a minute that I was listening to 45. Fund the police? No Joe. Fund our damn schools. Give our people free healthcare. What was that! #SOTU
— Erika Andiola (@ErikaAndiola) March 2, 2022

This is painful. So painful. Biden began his immigration remarks with "we need to secure our border". From what? From Black and Brown migrants?

President, you have failed us. You are no better than Republicans on this issue. You broke your promises.

So done.

-A "Dreamer"
— Erika Andiola (@ErikaAndiola) March 2, 2022

im convinced u people watched the SOTU, heard the “fund the police” headline but ignored where he said “with education and training”. imean, he’s literally giving what we were asking for. anyways, half the people in this thread live in a cul-de-sac at mommy and daddy’s
— moderate to severe rhumatoid arthritis (@SaheerUmar) March 2, 2022

Erika Andiola, an immigration activist and former press secretary for Bernie Sanders' campaign, added: “I felt for a minute that I was listening to 45. Fund the police? No Joe. Fund our damn schools. Give our people free healthcare. What was that! #SOTU. This is painful. So painful. Biden began his immigration remarks with ‘we need to secure our border’. From what? From Black and Brown migrants? President, you have failed us. You are no better than Republicans on this issue. You broke your promises. So done. -A ‘Dreamer’.”

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with members of Congress including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) (R) after delivering the State of the Union in the U.S. Capitol House Chamber on March 1, 2022 in Washington, DC. In his first State of the Union address, Biden spoke on his administration’s efforts to lead a global response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, work to curb inflation, and bring the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Saul Loeb - Pool/Getty Images)

#SOTU Biden saying let’s fund the police is the best thing he has said. Get these criminals off the streets and back into the cells.
— Donnie Azoff (@stocktrader2022) March 2, 2022

Everyone saying no to Fund The Police are missing to core idea behind it. We aren't saying "fund the police to give them more guns". We're saying them more money for better training, deescalation, better HR and IA, community outreach, and much more. Hard to do that without money.
— Squishy (@Squishy44832243) March 2, 2022

However, a user defending Biden tweeted: “Im convinced u people watched the SOTU, heard the ‘fund the police’ headline but ignored where he said “with education and training”. imean, he’s literally giving what we were asking for. anyways, half the people in this thread live in a cul-de-sac at mommy and daddy’s.” Another supporter said, “Biden saying let’s fund the police is the best thing he has said. Get these criminals off the streets and back into the cells.” “Everyone saying no to Fund The Police are missing to core idea behind it. We aren't saying "fund the police to give them more guns". We're saying them more money for better training, deescalation, better HR and IA, community outreach, and much more. Hard to do that without money,” the third one added.