Trump 'appalled' by movement to defund the police, press secretary McEnany

The White House said Monday that President Trump is "appalled" by efforts to defund police departments across the country, following the death of George Floyd after a police officer kneeled on his neck during a May 25 arrest. 

"The president is appalled," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at a press briefing. "This is rolling back the protective layers that protect Americans in their and places of business."

McEnany also pointed to several Democratic politicians, including squad members Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the latter of whom serves as an adviser to the Biden presidential campaign, who have vocally supported the idea of defunding police departments across the nation.

She also said Trump is looking at a number of policy options and has not yet reviewed the text of the bill introduced by congressional Democrats earlier the day that calls for sweeping police reform and oversight.

Though she did clarify that there are "some non-starters in there." 

She quoted Attorney General Barr, who this weekend said, "I don't think we need to reduce immunity to go after bad-cops."

McEnany also spoke about the positive jobs report released Friday, calling it the first step toward the rebuilding of "the hottest economy in modern history."

Friday's report showed 2.5 million job jobs added in May, compared to the projected 7.5 million fewer jobs. The unemployment rate was reported at 13.3%, significantly lower than the previously foretold 20%.

McEnany also emphasized that the numbers were a win for supporters of the Payroll Protection Plan in the recently enacted coronavirus stimulus act. She also said that the president remains open to a fourth stimulus bill but doesn't want another bailout for so-called Blue states that have spent irresponsibly under Democratic leadership.

However, he wants a bill that would include such elements as the payroll tax holiday and other measures that would directly benefit low-income workers.

McEnany said she also received an update on coronavirus before the start of the White House press briefing from Dr. Deborah Birx, McEnany, who said the U.S. now has the "lowest fatality report since March," and that the country is "heading in a positive direction even as we begin to reopen."