FACT CHECK: Did The Fraternal Order Of Police Rescind Their Endorsement Of Trump Following Jan. 6 Pardons?

Christine Sellers | Fact Check Reporter

A viral post shared on X claims the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) rescinded their endorsement of President Donald Trump following recent pardons Trump issued to individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Verdict: False

The claim is false. In a joint statement with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the FOP said they were “deeply discouraged” by the pardons but did not rescind their endorsement of Trump.

Fact Check:

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said it was a “mistake” for Trump to pardon individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to NBC News. Graham made the remark during a recent appearance on “Meet The Press,” the outlet reported.

The X post, which has amassed over one million views as of writing, claims the FOP rescinded their endorsement of Trump following recent pardons Trump issued to individuals involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“I don’t think it’s a big enough story that The Fraternal Order of Police, the largest police union in the country, rescinded their endorsement of President Trump due to his pardoning of Jan. 6 insurrectionists,” the post reads. The post includes a video in which Trump supporters appear to clash with police on Jan. 6, 2021.

The claim is false. In a joint statement with the IACP, the FOP said they were “deeply discouraged” by the pardons but did not rescind their endorsement of Trump.

“The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) have had long standing and positive relationships with both President Trump and President Biden and have greatly appreciated their support of the policing profession. However, the IACP and FOP are deeply discouraged by the recent pardons and commutations granted by both the Biden and Trump Administrations to individuals convicted of killing or assaulting law enforcement officers. The IACP and FOP firmly believe that those convicted of such crimes should serve their full sentences,” the statement reads in part.

Likewise, the FOP does not appear to have commented on the claim via their associated social media accounts. Trump has not referenced the claim, either. (RELATED: Trump Sign In California Is From 2020, Not 2025)

In addition, Check Your Fact did not find any credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On Jan. 24, Lead Stories debunked the claim, referencing the joint statement from the IACP and the FOP.

Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people who were involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Reuters reported on Jan. 22.

Christine Sellers

Fact Check Reporter

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