Politics- Fox host Steve Doocy called out Republicans for demonizing the FBI following a raid on Trump's home.
- Doocy asked Rep. Scalise: "Whatever happened to the Republican Party backing the blue?"
For years, Republicans have decried Democrats and the Black Lives Matter movement over criticism of law enforcement in relation to police brutality. The GOP has portrayed itself as a pro-cop party — vehemently condemning calls from activists to defund the police.
But in the wake of the FBI raid on former President Donald Trump's home, Republicans are signing a different tune about law enforcement. Some have even called for the FBI to be defunded, which strongly contrasts with the GOP's presentation of itself as the "law and order" party.
"Fox & Friends" host Steve Doocy confronted GOP Rep. Steve Scalise about this disconnect on Thursday while calling out the ways in which the FBI has been "demonized" online since the raid — including by sitting Republican members of Congress.
"I'm just curious, whatever happened to the Republican Party backing the blue? And, in particular, the [35,000] members of law enforcement, federal law enforcement, at the FBI?" Doocy asked.
"Frankly, we are very strong supporters of law enforcement, and it concerns everybody if you see some agents go rogue," Scalise said in response. "If you see an agent that doesn't have the right checks and balances at the top. This is coming from the top."
After Scalise suggested that FBI agents went "rogue," Doocy pushed back, stating, "Who went rogue, Steve? Who went rogue? They were following a search warrant!"
Scalise responded that the GOP wants to "find that out."
After more back-and-forth, Doocy said, "Steve, why not wait a week or so until we know more about this search warrant than immediately rush to judgment and say, 'The FBI, they're crazy.'"
—Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 11, 2022
A number of Republicans have vilified the FBI in recent days, with some comparing it to the Gestapo — the brutal secret police of Nazi Germany.
And some GOP lawmakers have described the FBI raid on the former president's home as something that only happens in the "third world," despite the fact a number of democracies — including key US allies like France, Israel, and South Korea — have prosecuted, convicted, and even jailed ex-leaders.
The FBI raid was reportedly in connection with boxes of documents — including classified material — that Trump took with him to Florida upon his departure from the White House.