Donald Trump has described the footage of the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols by five Memphis police officers as "horrible" and said the attack "never should have happened."
Trump was addressing a rally last night during a 2024 election campaign event in Columbia, South Carolina, US.
Speaking a day after authorities released the footage, the former President said: "I thought it was terrible. He was in such trouble. He was just being pummelled. Now that should never have happened."
Mr Nichols, who was dad to a four-year-old boy, was on his way home from taking pictures of the sunset at a local park when he was pulled over by the police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, US.
Following the savage attack he was left propped up against a car for 20 minutes without being given any first aid and died three days later.
Image:
Adrian Sainz/AP/REX/Shutterstock)In the shocking footage the 29-year-old can be heard repeatedly calling for his mum as the officers repeatedly punch, kick and hit him with a baton.
He was in the White House during the racial justice protests that erupted in the summer of 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)Trump tweeted about "thugs" in the Minneapolis protests and warned, "When the looting starts, the shooting starts."
At the time, he signed an executive order encouraging better police practices but has been criticized by some for failing to acknowledge what they consider systemic racial bias in policing.
Image:
Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Trump ultimately centred his 2020 reelection bid around a "law and order" message that emphasised support for law enforcement.
The officers involved in the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols have all been fired and each face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.
Trump said Nichols calling out for his mother was "a very sad moment."
Image:
Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)"That was really the point that got me the most, to be honest with you," he said.
Trump did not address the video in his campaign speeches in New Hampshire or South Carolina, the first stops of his 2024 presidential campaign.
The legal team for Nichols' family has likened it to the infamous 1991 police beating of Los Angeles motorist Rodney King.
Trump said Memphis Police were taking a "strong step" by disbanding the police unit involved in the attack, which was created to target violent offenders in areas beset by high crime.
"Look, the tape was perhaps not totally conclusive but, to me, it was pretty conclusive and it was vicious and violent and hard to believe - over a traffic violation," he said.
The officers charged for with Nichols' murder are Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith.
